The General Boundaries for Joseph's Descendants
Study note
The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh were both descended from Joseph, one of Jacob's twelve sons. Together they received a large territory in central Canaan. Their combined land stretched from the Jordan River near Jericho westward through the hill country to the Mediterranean Sea. This general description covers the overall area before the specific boundaries for each tribe are given.
1 The land given to Joseph's family started at the Jordan near Jericho. It was east of Jericho's springs. It went up through the desert, climbing from Jericho into the hills toward Bethel. And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Beth-el,
2 From Bethel it went to Luz and continued to the border of the Arkite territory at Ataroth. And goeth out from Beth-el to Luz, and passeth along unto the borders of Archi to Ataroth,
3 Then it headed west down to the Japhletite land. It went as far as lower Beth-horon and then to Gezer. It ended at the sea. And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Beth-horon the nether, and to Gezer: and the goings out thereof are at the sea.
4 This is how the descendants of Joseph -- the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim -- received their land. So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.
The Territory of Ephraim
Study note
Ephraim's specific borders ran through the central hill country. Their territory included the important cities of lower and upper Beth-horon. Some of Ephraim's cities were actually located within the borders of Manasseh, showing that the tribal territories overlapped in some areas. The chapter ends with an important note: the Ephraimites failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer. Instead, the Canaanites continued to live among the Ephraimites as forced laborers. This failure to completely obey God's command would cause problems for Israel in later generations.
5 Here is the land given to Ephraim, split by families. Their eastern border ran from Ataroth-addar up to upper Beth-horon. And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: even the border of their inheritance on the east side was Ataroth-addar, unto Beth-horon the upper;
6 The border continued west to Michmethath on the north side. It turned east toward Taanath-shiloh and passed by it on the east to Janoah. And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and the border went about eastward unto Taanath-shiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah;
7 From Janoah it dropped down to Ataroth and Naarath, came close to Jericho, and ended at the Jordan River. And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan.
8 From Tappuah the border ran west along the Kanah River and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was the land that the tribe of Ephraim's families received. The border went out from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families.
9 Ephraim also got some cities and villages from Manasseh's land. These were set apart just for them. And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.
10 But the Ephraimites never forced out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites continue living among Ephraim to this day, although they are forced to do hard labor. And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.