1. And the lot of the sons of Joseph fell from the Jordan over against Jericho and the waters thereof, on the east: the wilderness which goeth up from Jericho to the mountain of Bethel:
2. And goeth out from Bethel to Luza: and passeth the border of Archi, to Ataroth,
3. And goeth down westward, by the border of Jephleti, unto the borders of Beth-horon the nether, and to Gazer :and the countries of it are ended by the great sea:
4. And Manasses and Ephraim the children of Joseph possessed it.
5. And the border of the children of Ephraim was according to their kindreds: and their possession towards the east was Ataroth-addar unto Beth-horon the upper.
6. And the confines go out unto the sea: but Machmethath looketh to the north, and it goeth round the borders eastward into Thanath-selo: and passeth along on the east side to Janoe.
7. And it goeth down from Janoe into Ataroth and Naaratha: and it cometh to Jericho, and goeth out to the Jordan.
8. From Taphua it passeth on towards the sea into the valley of reeds, and the goings out thereof are at the most salt sea. This is the possession of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families.
9. And there were cities with their villages separated for the children of Ephraim in the midst of the possession of the children of Manasses.
10. And the children of Ephraim slew not the Chanaanite, who dwelt in Gazer: and the Chanaanite dwelt in the midst of Ephraim until this day, paying tribute.
Notas al pie:
16:1-4 - The inheritance of the tribe of Joseph is detailed, encompassing Ephraim and Manasseh. The emphasis on the unity of the tribes and their inheritances highlights the importance of unity in God's people (see also Psalm 133:1 and Ephesians 4:3).
16:5-10 - The cities and borders of Ephraim are described, reflecting the geographic and cultural diversity of the tribes of Israel. The allocation of land according to families emphasizes God's providence in distributing blessings (see also Psalm 16:6 and Proverbs 16:9).
16:9-10 - The text mentions Ephraim's inability to drive out the Canaanites, illustrating the challenges faced by God's people. This highlights the constant struggle between obedience to God and the influence of pagan cultures (see also Numbers 33:55 and 1 Corinthians 15:33).
16:8 - The reference to Jerusalem, which would become the holy city, points to the centrality of worship and the future importance of the city in the history of God's people (see also Psalm 48:1-2 and Hebrews 12:22-24).
16:10 - The recognition of the continued presence of the Canaanites in Ephraim highlights the importance of spiritual purity and the need to confront evil influences, indicating that victory is an ongoing battle (see also 2 Corinthians 6:14 and James 4:7).
Versos relacionados con Joshua, 16:
Joshua chapter 16 describes the inheritance of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. How is Joseph's blessing manifested? This concise text delineates the territories assigned to Joseph's descendants. The chapter addresses themes of inheritance, divine blessing, and the complexities of incomplete conquest. Joshua 16 also reveals Israel's failures to completely expel the Canaanites. Consider with us five biblical passages that relate to the provocative themes of this eye-opening chapter.
Genesis 48:5: "Now therefore your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, shall be mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, like Reuben and Simeon." - This passage explains why Ephraim and Manasseh, mentioned in Joshua 16, were given portions of land as separate tribes.
1 Chronicles 7:28-29: "Their possessions and settlements included Bethel and the villages around it, [...] and Shechem and the villages around it, as far as Aia and its villages." - This verse details some of the cities of the tribe of Ephraim, complementing the information in Joshua 16.
Judges 1:29: "Ephraim also did not expel the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, but the Canaanites continued to live among them." - This passage refers directly to Joshua 16:10, showing the historical continuity of the Canaanite presence in Gezer.
Psalms 78:67: "Furthermore, he rejected the tent of Joseph, he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;" - This verse references the tribe of Ephraim, whose heritage is described in Joshua 16, in the context of Israel's history.
Ezekiel 48:5: "Along the border of Manasseh, from the east side to the west side, Ephraim will have a portion;" - This prophetic vision of Ezekiel echoes the division of the land described in Joshua 16, reaffirming the continuing importance of tribal inheritance.
FAQ:
What was assigned to the tribe of Ephraim in Joshua 16?
The tribe of Ephraim received a significant portion of land, with well-defined boundaries and several important cities, reflecting its importance and numbers. (Joshua 16:1-4)
What were the main cities in Ephraim's portion?
The main cities in Ephraim’s portion included Shechem and Bethel, which played important roles in the religious and social life of the tribe. (Joshua 16:6-8)
What was said about the conquest of the land of Ephraim?
Although the tribe of Ephraim received a good portion, there were still Canaanite cities that were not completely conquered, resulting in continued conflict. (Joshua 16:10)
What challenge did Ephraim face in his inheritance?
The challenge Ephraim faced was the presence of Canaanites in the assigned cities, which made it difficult to fully occupy and control the land. (Joshua 16:10)
How does the distribution of land to Ephraim reinforce God’s promise?
The distribution of the land to Ephraim reinforces God's promise to give the Israelites an inheritance in the Promised Land, according to the covenant with Abraham. (Joshua 16:4)
