Bible Commentaries

Joshua 16:1 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 Bethel,

Ver. 1. And the lot of the children of Joseph.] See Joshua 15:1.

From Jordan by Jericho.] On the north of Canaan, as Judah’s had fallen on the south: that these two strongest tribes might be as bulwarks to both sides of the kingdom. So in their march through the wilderness, in their several companies or brigades, God put a strong tribe to two weak tribes, as Judah to Issachar and Zebulon, &c. See Isaiah 26:1; Isaiah 40:11.

Unto the water of Jericho.] Afterwards made no less famous than wholesome by Elisha’s healing of them. [2 Kings 2:21]

Joshua 16:2 And goeth out from Bethel to Luz, and passeth along unto the borders of Archi to Ataroth,

Ver. 2. Unto the borders of Archi.] Hushai’s country, [2 Samuel 16:16] ennobled by his name, as Co was to Hippocrates, and little Hippo by great Augustine.

Joshua 16:3 And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Bethhoron the nether, and to Gezer: and the goings out thereof are at the sea.

Ver. 3. And to Gezer.] Where the Canaanites held them till Solomon’s days; but were then slain by Pharaoh, king of Egypt, in favour of his daughter, Solomon’s wife. [1 Kings 9:16]

Joshua 16:4 So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.

Ver. 4. Manasseh and Ephraim took their inheritance.] And it was a happiness to both that they lay together: but a shameful thing that afterwards it should be said, "Manasseh against Ephraim, and Ephraim against Manasseh; and they together against Judah." [Isaiah 9:21]

Joshua 16:5 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 Atarothaddar, unto Bethhoron the upper;

Ver. 5. Was Atarothaddar unto Bethhoron the upper.] As there were two Bethhorons, so Eusebius telleth us that there were two Ataroths: one near Rama; the other, four miles distant from Samaria.

Joshua 16:6 And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and the border went about eastward unto Taanathshiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah;

Ver. 6. Toward the sea.] Or, Westward by Michmethah, and then eastward by several towns here mentioned. These are ancient things, and to us hard to be understood.

Joshua 16:7 And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan.

Ver. 7. And came to Jericho,] i.e., To the territories, but not to the town itself, for that was part of Benjamin’s lot. [Joshua 18:21]

Joshua 16:8 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.

Ver. 8. The border went out from Tappuah.] So called from the plenty of apples that grew there: as Perton in Worcestershire is from the plenty of pears.

Joshua 16:9 And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim [were] among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.

Ver. 9. And the separate cities, &c.] Allotted to Ephraim, a numerous tribe, within the portion of Manasseh.

Joshua 16:10 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.

Ver. 10. And they drave not out.] Which is nothing for their commendation; but discovereth either their cowardice or covetousness, or both.

But the Canaanites dwell, &c.] {See Trapp on "Joshua 16:3"} They would not yield: so that Pharaoh was forced to fire their town. [1 Kings 9:16]