Joshua 16
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Commentaries
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The children of Joseph - Ephraim and Manasseh, and their descendants. The limits of the tribe of Ephraim extended along the borders of Benjamin and Dan, from Jordan on the east to the Mediterranean on the west.
Open source ↗THE GENERAL BORDERS OF THE SONS OF JOSEPH. (Jos 16:1-4) 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-- (Kg2 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.
Open source ↗And the lot of the children of Joseph fell,.... Or, "went out" (a); of the pot or urn, this being the next lot that was drawn to that of Judah, the government being Judah's, and the birthright Joseph's, Ch1 5:2; and by his children are here meant the tribe of Ephraim, and the tribe of Manasseh: or the line and border according to the lot went forth from Jordan by Jericho unto the water of Jericho on the east; by which it appears, that this was the southern border of the lot; for the tribe of Benjamin, in which Jericho was, lay between Judah and Ephraim, and the border began at Jordan, where it flowed near Jericho, and proceeded to a water which belonged to that city, and is generally thought to be the waters Elisha healed, Kg2 2:19, to the wilderness that goeth up throughout Mount Bethel; this was the wilderness of Bethaven, Jos 18:12; Jarchi interprets it of the border that went up through Mount Bethel; which is true, and so might the wilderness also, for which the Targum is express; mention is made of a mountain on the east of Bethel, Gen 12:8. (a) "et egressa est", Pagninus, Montanus; "exivit", Piscator.
Open source ↗Territory of the tribe of Joseph. - Jos 16:1. "And there came out the lot of the children of Joseph from Jordan by Jericho." "The lot came out," viz., from the turn (cf. Jos 19:1, Jos 19:17, Jos 19:24). The expression "came up" is used in the same sense in Jos 18:11. The connection of these two words with the rest of the sentence, "from Jordan by Jericho," may be explained on the supposition that the lot which came out of the urn determined the inheritance that fell to the tribe, so that we might paraphrase the verse in this manner: "There came out the lot to the children of Joseph, namely, the inheritance, which goes out from, or whose boundary commences at, the Jordan by Jericho," i.e., from that part of the Jordan which is opposite to Jericho, and which is still more precisely defined by the additional clause, "by the water of Jericho eastward." The water of Jericho is the present fountain of es Sultan, half an hour to the north-west of Riha, the only large fountain in the neighbourhood of Jericho, whose waters spread over the plain, and form a small brook, which no doubt flows in the rainy season through the Wady Kelt into the Jordan (see Rob. ii. pp. 283-4; Tobler, Topogr. v. Jerus. ii. pp. 558-9). "The wilderness" is in opposition to "the lot," so that the sense is, "namely, the desert going up from Jericho to the mountains to Bethel." According to Jos 18:12, the reference is to the desert of Beth-aven, which was on the east of Bethel, between the Wady Suwar (Tuwar) and Mutyah (see at Jos 7:2). Towards the east this desert terminates with the Jebel Kuruntul (Quarantana) on the north-west of Jericho, where it descends precipitously into the valley of the Jordan, or v. v., where it rises out of the Jordan valley. According to Jos 18:12, the same boundary went up by…
Open source ↗Though Joseph was one of the younger sons of Jacob, yet he was his eldest by his most just and best beloved wife Rachel, was himself his best beloved son, and had been the greatest ornament and support of his family, kept it from perishing in a time of famine, and had been the shepherd and stone of Israel, and therefore his posterity were very much favoured by the lot. Their portion lay in the very heart of the land of Canaan. It extended from Jordan in the east (Jos 16:1) to the sea, the Mediterranean Sea, in the west, so that it took up the whole breadth of Canaan from side to side; and no question the fruitfulness of the soil answered the blessings both of Jacob and Moses, Gen 49:25, Gen 49:26, and Deu 33:13, etc. The portions allotted to Ephraim and Manasseh are not so particularly described as those of the other tribes; we have only the limits and boundaries of them, not the particular cities in them, as before we had the cities of Judah and afterwards those of the other tribes. For this no reason can be assigned, unless we may suppose that Joshua being himself of the children of Joseph they referred it to him alone to distribute among them the several cities that lay within their lot, and therefore did not bring in the names of their cities to the great council of their princes who sat upon this affair, by which means it came to pass that they were not inserted with the rest in the books.
Open source ↗16:1–17:18 Joseph had two sons,Manasseh and Ephraim (Gen 41:50-52). Half of Manasseh’s descendants had received their inheritance east of the Jordan River. The tribe of Ephraim and the rest of the tribe of Manasseh now received their allotments. This brought the total number of allotments to twelve and fulfilled the blessing Jacob had pronounced upon Joseph (Gen 49:22-26). Like Judah in the south, Joseph’s tribes exercised leadership from their central position in the north. 16:1 Jericho was assigned to the tribe of Benjamin (18:21).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
גּוֹרָל (gôwrâl, H1486) — properly, a pebble, i.e. a lot (small stones being used for that purpose); figuratively,… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יוֹסֵף (Yôwçêph, H3130) — Joseph, the name of seven Israelites יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… יַרְדֵּן (Yardên, H3383) — Jarden, the principal river of Palestine יְרִיחוֹ (Yᵉrîychôw, H3405) — Jericho or Jerecho, a place in Palestine מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen מִזְרָח (mizrâch, H4217) — sunrise, i.e. the east מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) בֵּית־אֵל (Bêyth-ʼÊl, H1008) — Beth-El, a place in Palestine
Open source ↗יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… בֵּית־אֵל (Bêyth-ʼÊl, H1008) — Beth-El, a place in Palestine לוּז (Lûwz, H3870) — Luz, the name of two places in Palestine עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… אַרְכִּי (ʼArkîy, H757) — an Arkite or native of Erek עֲטָרוֹת (ʻĂṭârôwth, H5852) — Ataroth, the name (thus simply) of two places in Palestine
Open source ↗יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… יַפְלֵטִי (Yaphlêṭîy, H3311) — a Japhletite or descendant of Japhlet בֵּית חוֹרוֹן (Bêyth Chôwrôwn, H1032) — Beth-Choron, the name of two adjoining places in Palestine תַּחְתּוֹן (tachtôwn, H8481) — bottommost גֶּזֶר (Gezer, H1507) — Gezer, a place in Palestine תּוֹצָאָה (tôwtsâʼâh, H8444) — (only in plural collective) exit, i.e. (geographical) boundary, or (figuratively)…
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יוֹסֵף (Yôwçêph, H3130) — Joseph, the name of seven Israelites מְנַשֶּׁה (Mᵉnashsheh, H4519) — Menashsheh, a grandson of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its territory אֶפְרַיִם (ʼEphrayim, H669) — Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory נָחַל (nâchal, H5157) — to inherit (as a (figurative) mode of descent), or (generally) to occupy; causatively, to…
Open source ↗גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אֶפְרַיִם (ʼEphrayim, H669) — Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpâchâh, H4940) — a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of… נַחֲלָה (nachălâh, H5159) — properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom;… מִזְרָח (mizrâch, H4217) — sunrise, i.e. the east עַטְרוֹת אַדָּר (ʻAṭrôwth ʼAddâr, H5853) — Atroth-Addar, a place in Palestine בֵּית חוֹרוֹן (Bêyth Chôwrôwn, H1032) — Beth-Choron, the name of two adjoining places in Palestine עֶלְיוֹן (ʻelyôwn, H5945) — an elevation, i.e. (adj.) lofty (compar.); as title, the Supreme
Open source ↗גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… מִכְמְתָת (Mikmᵉthâth, H4366) — Mikmethath, a place in Palestine צָפוֹן (tsâphôwn, H6828) — properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown) סָבַב (çâbab, H5437) — to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively מִזְרָח (mizrâch, H4217) — sunrise, i.e. the east תַּאֲנַת שִׁלֹה (Taʼănath Shilôh, H8387) — Taanath-Shiloh, a place in Palestine עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… יָנוֹחַ (Yânôwach, H3239) — Janoach or Janochah, a place in Palestine
Open source ↗יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… יָנוֹחַ (Yânôwach, H3239) — Janoach or Janochah, a place in Palestine עֲטָרוֹת (ʻĂṭârôwth, H5852) — Ataroth, the name (thus simply) of two places in Palestine נַעֲרָה (Naʻărâh, H5292) — Naarah, the name of an Israelitess, and of a place in Palestine פָּגַע (pâgaʻ, H6293) — to impinge, by accident or violence, or (figuratively) by importunity יְרִיחוֹ (Yᵉrîychôw, H3405) — Jericho or Jerecho, a place in Palestine יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… יַרְדֵּן (Yardên, H3383) — Jarden, the principal river of Palestine
Open source ↗גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) תַּפּוּחַ (Tappûwach, H8599) — Tappuach, the name of two places in Palestine, also of an Israelite יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… נַחַל (nachal, H5158) — a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a… קָנָה (Qânâh, H7071) — Kanah, the name of a stream and of a place in Palestine תּוֹצָאָה (tôwtsâʼâh, H8444) — (only in plural collective) exit, i.e. (geographical) boundary, or (figuratively)… נַחֲלָה (nachălâh, H5159) — properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom;… מַטֶּה (maṭṭeh, H4294) — a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אֶפְרַיִם (ʼEphrayim, H669) — Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpâchâh, H4940) — a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of…
Open source ↗מִבְדָּלָה (mibdâlâh, H3995) — a separation, i.e. (concretely) a separate place עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אֶפְרַיִם (ʼEphrayim, H669) — Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory תָּוֶךְ (tâvek, H8432) — a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre נַחֲלָה (nachălâh, H5159) — properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom;… מְנַשֶּׁה (Mᵉnashsheh, H4519) — Menashsheh, a grandson of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its territory חָצֵר (châtsêr, H2691) — a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)
Open source ↗יָרַשׁ (yârash, H3423) — to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by… כְּנַעַנִי (Kᵉnaʻanîy, H3669) — a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing… יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… גֶּזֶר (Gezer, H1507) — Gezer, a place in Palestine קֶרֶב (qereb, H7130) — properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial… אֶפְרַיִם (ʼEphrayim, H669) — Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… עָבַד (ʻâbad, H5647) — to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc. מַס (maç, H4522) — properly, a burden (as causing to faint), i.e. a tax in the form of forced labor
Open source ↗Cross-references
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On the north side their border began at the Jordan, went up past the northern slope of Jericho, headed west through the hill country, and came out at the wilderness of Beth-aven.
Joshua and all Israel let themselves be beaten back before them, and they fled toward the wilderness.
These were in the wilderness: