Joshua Chapter 16 — The Inheritance of Ephraim
Joshua 16 outlines the land allotment for the descendants of Joseph, with a detailed description of the borders assigned specifically to the tribe of Ephraim.
Open this chapter in the Biblicast app for the full reading experience with audio narration and explanations.
Notable Verses
Joshua 16:4
“The children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.”
This verse establishes that the two sons of Joseph were treated as major tribal entities during the distribution of the land.
Joshua 16:10
“They didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell in the territory of Ephraim to this day, and have become servants to do forced labor.”
This verse highlights the partial failure to fully conquer the land, which had significant implications for Israel's future history.
Chapter Summary
Joshua 16 records the division of the Promised Land for the descendants of Joseph, specifically focusing on the tribe of Ephraim. The chapter begins by describing the collective territory given to both Manasseh and Ephraim, stretching from the Jordan River near Jericho through the hill country to the Mediterranean Sea. The text then provides a detailed account of Ephraim's specific borders, naming various landmarks such as Bethel, Ataroth, and Gezer. This inheritance included specific cities within the territory later assigned to Manasseh. The chapter concludes with the observation that the tribe of Ephraim did not completely drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer. Instead, the Canaanites were allowed to remain in the land, where they were eventually subjected to forced labor under the Ephraimites.
Frequently Asked Questions
The children of Joseph were Ephraim and Manasseh. Although they were grandsons of Jacob, they were each given a status equal to Jacob's sons and received their own distinct tribal inheritances in the Promised Land.
Ephraim's territory extended from the Jordan River near Jericho in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. Key landmarks mentioned in its borders include Bethel, Beth Horon, and Gezer.
The text does not specify the reason for their failure to drive them out, but it notes that the Canaanites remained in the land. Instead of being expelled, they were forced into labor as servants for the people of Ephraim.
Study Note
The mention of Bethel and Luz in verse 2 reflects the ancient names of these sites, which were significant locations in the history of the patriarchs.
Related Chapters
Joshua Chapter 17
This chapter continues the description of the inheritance for the other half of the house of Joseph, the tribe of Manasseh.
Numbers Chapter 26
This chapter provides the census data that determined how the land was to be divided among the tribes of Israel.
Judges Chapter 1
The book of Judges further describes the ongoing presence of Canaanite groups that were not fully removed during the initial conquest.
Continue in the App
Get the full experience — immersive audio, instant explanations, highlights, notes, and reading plans.