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Joshua 16:6-8 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

6 And the border H1366 went out H3318 toward the sea H3220 to Michmethah H4366 on the north side; H6828 and the border H1366 went about H5437 eastward H4217 unto Taanathshiloh, H8387 and passed H5674 by it on the east H4217 to Janohah; H3239

7 And it went down H3381 from Janohah H3239 to Ataroth, H5852 and to Naarath, H5292 and came H6293 to Jericho, H3405 and went out H3318 at Jordan. H3383

8 The border H1366 went out H3212 from Tappuah H8599 westward H3220 unto the river H5158 Kanah; H7071 and the goings out H8444 thereof were at the sea. H3220 This is the inheritance H5159 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Ephraim H669 by their families. H4940

Commentary on Joshua 16 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 16

Jos 16:1-4. The General Borders of the Sons of Joseph.

1. the lot of the children of Joseph fell—Hebrew, "went forth," referring either to the lot as drawn out of the urn, or to the tract of land thereby assigned. The first four verses describe the territory allotted to the family of Joseph in the rich domains of central Palestine. It was drawn in one lot, that the brethren might be contiguously situated; but it was afterwards divided. The southern boundary only is described here; that on the north being irregular and less defined (Jos 17:10, 11), is not mentioned.

water of Jericho—(2Ki 2:19), at the joint of its junction with the Jordan.

mount Beth-el—the ridge south of Beth-el. Having described the position of Joseph's family generally the historian proceeds to define the territory; first, that of Ephraim.

Jos 16:5-9. The Borders of the Inheritance of Ephraim.

5-9. the border of their inheritance … was Ataroth-addar—Ataroth-addar (now Atara), four miles south of Jetta [Robinson], is fixed on as a center, through which a line is drawn from Upper Beth-horon to Michmethah, showing the western limit of their actual possessions. The tract beyond that to the sea was still unconquered.

6, 7. Michmethah on the north side—The northern boundary is traced from this point eastward to the Jordan.

8. from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah—It is retraced from east to west, to describe the prospective and intended boundary, which was to reach to the sea. Kanah ("reedy") flows into the Mediterranean.

9. separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of Manasseh—(Jos 17:9), because it was found that the tract allotted to Ephraim was too small in proportion to its population and power.

10. they drave not out the Canaanites … but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute—This is the first mention of the fatal policy of the Israelites, in neglecting the divine command (De 20:16) to exterminate the idolaters.