---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Joshua 16"
description: "CHAPTER 16   :-. THE GENERAL
BORDERS OF THE SONS
OF JOSEPH. 1. the lot of the children of Joseph
fell—Hebrew, \"went forth,\" referring either to
the lot as"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/joshua/16"
---

CHAPTER 16

. THE GENERAL
BORDERS OF THE SONS
OF JOSEPH.

**1. 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
([Joshua 17:10](../../../kjv/joshua/17/10); [Joshua 17:11](../../../kjv/joshua/17/11)),
is not mentioned.
**water of Jericho**— ([Joshua 17:11](../../../kjv/joshua/17/11)), 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.
[Joshua 17:11](../../../kjv/joshua/17/11). THE BORDERS
OF THE INHERITANCE OF
EPHRAIM.

**5-9. the border of their inheritance
. . . was Ataroth-addar**—Ataroth-addar (now Atara), four miles
south of Jetta [ROBINSON],
is fixed on as a center, through which a line is drawn from Upper
Beth-horon to Michmethah, showing the western limit of their actual
possessions. The tract beyond that to the sea was still unconquered.

**6, 7. Michmethah on the north
side**—The northern boundary is traced from this point eastward
to the Jordan.

**8. from Tappuah westward unto the
river Kanah**—It is retraced from east to west, to describe the
prospective and intended boundary, which was to reach to the sea.
Kanah ("reedy") flows into the Mediterranean.

**9. separate cities for the children
of Ephraim were among the inheritance of Manasseh**— (), because it was found that the tract allotted to Ephraim
was too small in proportion to its population and power.

**10. they drave not out the
Canaanites . . . but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto
this day, and serve under tribute**—This is the first mention of
the fatal policy of the Israelites, in neglecting the divine command
([Deuteronomy 20:16](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/20/16)) to exterminate the
idolaters.

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