en-v0.1→en-v0.2-dev·#4ec7350b0640Contribute to en-v0.2

Joshua 16:1-17:18 — Ephraim and Manasseh's Allotment

Josh.16.1-17.18

¹The lot for the descendants of Joseph came out from the Jordan at Jericho, at the waters of Jericho on the east, through the wilderness that goes up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel. ²From Bethel it went to Luz and passed on to the border of the Archites at Ataroth. ³Then it went down westward to the border of the Japhletites, as far as the border of Lower Beth-horon and on to Gezer; and its boundary ended at the sea. ⁴So the descendants of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, received their inheritance. ⁵This was the border of the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: the border of their inheritance on the east was Ataroth-addar, as far as Upper Beth-horon. ⁶Then the border went out westward to Michmethath on the north; and the border turned eastward to Taanath-shiloh and passed beyond it eastward to Janoah. ⁷From Janoah it went down to Ataroth and Naarah, reached Jericho, and came out at the Jordan. ⁸From Tappuah the border went westward to the Brook of Kanah, and its boundary ended at the sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Ephraim by their clans, ⁹along with the cities set apart for the descendants of Ephraim within the inheritance of the descendants of Manasseh—all the cities with their villages. ¹⁰But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites have lived among Ephraim to this day and have become forced labor .

Chapter 17

¹This was the lot for the tribe of Manasseh, for he was Joseph's firstborn: to Machir, the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, belonged Gilead and Bashan, because he was a man of war. ²And it was for the rest of the descendants of Manasseh by their clans: the descendants of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These were the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans. ³But Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters; and these were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. ⁴They came before Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, saying, 'The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.' So, at the command of the LORD, he gave them an inheritance among their father's brothers. ⁵Thus ten portions were assigned to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan beyond the Jordan. ⁶For the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance among his sons, and the land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh. ⁷Now the border of Manasseh ran from Asher to Michmethath, which is opposite Shechem, and the border went southward toward the inhabitants of En-tappuah. ⁸The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the descendants of Ephraim. ⁹Then the border went down to the Brook of Kanah, south of the brook. These cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh; but the border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook, and its boundary ended at the sea. ¹⁰Southward belonged to Ephraim, and northward to Manasseh, with the sea as its border; and it bordered Asher on the north and Issachar on the east. ¹¹And Manasseh had in Issachar and Asher Beth-shean with its settlements, Ibleam with its settlements, the inhabitants of Dor with its settlements, the inhabitants of En-dor with its settlements, the inhabitants of Taanach with its settlements, and the inhabitants of Megiddo with its settlements—the three districts . ¹²Yet the descendants of Manasseh were not able to dispossess these cities, and the Canaanites persisted in living in that land. ¹³But when the Israelites grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor; still, they did not completely drive them out. ¹⁴Then the descendants of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, 'Why have you given us only one lot and one portion as an inheritance, though we are a numerous people, since the LORD has blessed us so greatly?' ¹⁵Joshua said to them, 'If you are such a numerous people, go up to the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, because the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.' ¹⁶The descendants of Joseph said, 'The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the valley land have iron chariots, both those in Beth-shean and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.' ¹⁷Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—'You are a numerous people, and you have great strength. You shall not have only one allotment,' ¹⁸for the hill country will be yours. For it is a forest, and you shall clear it, and its farthest boundaries will be yours. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and though they are strong.'

Translation Notes

4/11/2026

💡 Read the current translation below. If you have suggestions, comment by verse.

📚 Reference Translations

🔬 Exegesis Resources