JoshuaChapter 16

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The lot for the descendants of Joseph ran from the Jordan at Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, through the wilderness that climbs from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel.

From Bethel it went on to Luz and crossed over to the territory of the Archites at Ataroth.

Then it went down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of Lower Beth-horon and on to Gezer, and it ended at the Great Sea.

So the descendants of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, received their inheritance.

This was the territory of the Ephraimites, clan by clan: the boundary of their inheritance ran from Ataroth-addar on the east to Upper Beth-horon,

From there the boundary ran westward, with Michmethath on the north, and it turned eastward to Taanath-shiloh and passed by it on the east of Janoah.

Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho, and came out at the Jordan.

From Tappuah the boundary ran west to the Kanah Ravine and ended at the sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of Ephraim, clan by clan,

together with all the towns and their villages that were set apart for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites.

But they did not drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer. So the Canaanites have lived among the Ephraimites to this day, subjected to forced labor.

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Summary2

Chapter 16

Main Theme: The chapter describes the land allocation to Joseph's descendants, with a focus on the territory of the tribe of Ephraim.

Content: The inheritance for Joseph's sons extended from the Jordan River near Jericho in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. The borders of Ephraim are described in detail, including cities such as Ataroth-Addar, Upper and Lower Beth-Horon, and Gezer. Ephraim also received cities within Manasseh's territory. The Canaanites in Gezer were not driven out but remained there as forced laborers.

Key Words/Images:

Inheritance (גּוֹרָל): The land distribution was determined by casting lots, demonstrating God's will in the allocation.
Joseph's sons: Ephraim and Manasseh inherited as two separate tribes, according to Jacob's blessing.
Forced labor (מַס־עֹבֵד): The Canaanites were not destroyed but subjugated as a labor force—a sign of incomplete obedience.

Historical context

Places

Joshua 16 describes the southern boundary of the inheritance of Joseph’s tribes, with particular focus on Ephraim’s territory. Jericho is mentioned as the starting point by the Jordan River, a strategically important oasis city in the Jordan Valley. Bethel (also called Luz) was an important religious center even before the arrival of the Israelites, known from the patriarchal narratives. Upper and Lower Beth-Horon were twin cities that controlled a key mountain pass between the coastal plain and the highlands—one of the most strategic routes in the entire region.

Gezer is specifically mentioned in verse 10 as a Canaanite city that Ephraim failed to drive out. Archaeologically, Tell Gezer has revealed significant fortifications from the Bronze Age. The city remained under Canaanite control until the time of Solomon (1 Kings 9:16), confirming the description in this chapter.

Events and Customs

The conclusion of the chapter (verse 10) describes a practice in which the Canaanites in Gezer were put to forced labor (Hebrew: mas-oved). This was a widespread custom in the ancient Near East, where defeated peoples were required to perform labor instead of being driven out or killed. This solution represented a compromise that departed from the complete command to drive out the Canaanites, and the text suggests this had lasting consequences for the tribe of Ephraim.

Key Terms

The expression "goral" (גּוֹרָל) in verse 1 refers to the casting of lots used to distribute the land. This was not gambling, but understood as a way for God to decide the distribution in a fair manner. The results were regarded as divinely guided.

People2

Joseph1 Manasse (Joseph's son)2

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Key words9

Joshua — The main character in the book of Joshua, leader of the people of Israel and Moses' successor.
The Land — The area that God promised to give to the people of Israel as their inheritance and homeland.
Inheritance — A gift or property passed from one generation to another, especially within the tribes of Israel.
Ephraim — One of the twelve tribes of Israel, descendants of Joseph's son Ephraim.
Manasseh — Another of the twelve tribes of Israel, descendants of Joseph's son Manasseh.
Territory — Geographic areas assigned to each of the tribes of Israel as their inheritance and place of settlement.
Borders — Lines that mark the boundary between different territories or regions.
Cities — Populated areas where people live and work together, often protected by defensive walls.
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