The allotment of the people of Joseph went from the Jordan by Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, into the wilderness, going up from Jericho into the hill country to Bethel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse describes the boundaries of the Joseph tribes, but it's crucial to note that the actual expulsion of the Canaanites from these lands wasn't complete, leaving a lingering presence that would later cause complications. This detail, though not a boundary marker itself, highlights a significant tension between God's promise and the people's obedience, setting the stage for future struggles.
The allotment of the people of Joseph went from the Jordan by Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, into the wilderness, going up from Jericho into the hill country to Bethel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The narrative picks up with the detailed distribution of the Promised Land to the tribes of Israel. Following the prominent allotment for Judah, this passage begins the division for the descendants of Joseph, encompassing the tribes of Ephraim and the half-tribe of Manasseh. The description outlines the general boundaries of their combined inheritance before delving into the specific portions for Ephraim.
Why does the Bible focus so much on Joseph's inheritance? It's a story of divine honor and a testament to God's faithfulness.
This passage kicks off the description of the land inheritance for the tribe of Joseph, which includes both Ephraim and Manasseh. This wasn't just any tribe; Joseph received the 'double portion' – a significant honor passed down from Jacob. Jacob had elevated Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to the status of his own sons, granting them tribal inheritance rights. This meant that instead of Reuben getting the traditional firstborn's double portion, it went to Joseph's line. This spiritual and familial priority is why their inheritance is described in detail, second only to Judah.
This emphasizes God's deliberate planning and His keeping of promises. Even in the distribution of land, He was honoring the lineage and the special place Joseph held in the family's history and in God's redemptive plan.
The land given to Joseph wasn't just a geographical spot; its borders tell a story of both divine provision and ongoing struggle.
Joshua 16:1 meticulously outlines the initial boundaries of Joseph's inheritance, stretching from the Jordan River near Jericho, through the wilderness, and up into the hill country towards Bethel. This description sets the stage for understanding the territory allocated to the significant tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.
However, this detailed boundary description is immediately followed by the sobering reality found later in the chapter (and highlighted by commentators): the tribe of Ephraim did not fully expel the Canaanites from their allotted land, specifically from Gezer. They allowed them to remain, making them tributaries instead. This act of compromise, though seemingly practical, was a direct disobedience to God's command to utterly drive out the inhabitants of the land. It meant that within their 'blessed' inheritance, there remained a spiritual danger and a challenge to their faithfulness.
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Understand the original words
goral · Hebrew Noun
A portion of land or a share of possessions assigned to a person or group, often by divine direction or sovereign providence. In the Old Testament, it frequently refers to the land of Canaan distributed to the tribes of Israel as their God-given portion.
Yoseph · Hebrew Noun
The term for the people descended from Joseph, the son of Jacob. In this context, it refers to the combined tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, who represent Joseph’s double portion in the inheritance of Israel.
This verse is about the specific allotment of land to the descendants of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) as part of the larger division of Canaan by lot after the conquest. It situates their inheritance geographically within the promised land.
c. 1400 BC
Joshua Leads Israel into Canaan
Following the death of Moses, Joshua is commissioned by God to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. This marks the beginning of the conquest and division of Canaan.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites conquer key cities and regions in Canaan, initiating the process of dispossessing the native inhabitants.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Division of the Land by Lot
After the conquest, the land is systematically divided among the twelve tribes of Israel through the casting of lots, ensuring each tribe receives its inheritance.
c. 1400 BC
Ephraim and Manasseh Receive Their Portions
The sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, are allocated their ancestral lands in the central highlands of Canaan, as described in Joshua 16 and 17.
c. 1400 BC
Incomplete Expulsion of Canaanites
Despite the division of land, many Canaanite peoples remain within the territories of various tribes, including Ephraim, leading to future challenges.
This passage explains the special status of Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, being elevated to the status of patriarchs of tribes, setting the stage for their significant inheritance in the Promised Land.
Numbers 26:53-56These verses detail the basis for the land division by lot, emphasizing that the size of the inheritance should correspond to the size of the tribe, which is foundational to understanding how Joseph's (Ephraim and Manasseh's) portion was determined.
Joshua 17:14-18This passage highlights a complaint from the tribe of Joseph (Ephraim) about their lot being too small, revealing a tension between the allotted territory and the tribe's perceived potential and size, which relates to the boundaries described in Joshua 16:1.
Ezekiel 37:16-17This prophecy envisions the re-unification of Israel with two sticks, one for Judah and one for Joseph (Ephraim), showing the enduring significance of Joseph's tribes in God's future plans and connecting to their historical inheritance.
1 Chronicles 5:1-2This passage reiterates the birthright privilege of Joseph, noting that while Judah held the leadership, Joseph received the double portion, which directly informs why Joseph's tribes received such a substantial and central inheritance.
calvinJoshua 16:1-10: "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,"
Neque expulerunt Chananaeum habitantem in Gazer. Itaque habitavit Chananaeus in medio Ephraim usque ad diem hanc, et fuit tributo serviens.
And the lot of the children of Joseph fell, etc The sacred writer first states what the lot was which fell to the two children of Joseph, and then describes…
clarkeJoshua 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,"
The children of Joseph - Ephraim and Manasseh, and their descendants. The limits of the tribe of Ephraim extended along the borders of Benjamin and Dan, from Jordan on the east to the Mediterranean on the west.
The verse describes the boundaries of the Joseph tribes, but it's crucial to note that the actual expulsion of the Canaanites from these lands wasn't complete, leaving a lingering presence that would later cause complications. This detail, though not a boundary marker itself, highlights a significant tension between God's promise and the people's obedience, setting the stage for future struggles.
The narrative picks up with the detailed distribution of the Promised Land to the tribes of Israel. Following the prominent allotment for Judah, this passage begins the division for the descendants of Joseph, encompassing the tribes of Ephraim and the half-tribe of Manasseh. The description outlines the general boundaries of their combined inheritance before delving into the specific portions for Ephraim.
The narrative picks up with the detailed distribution of the Promised Land to the tribes of Israel. Following the prominent allotment for Judah, this passage begins the division for the descendants of Joseph, encompassing the tribes of Ephraim and the half-tribe of Manasseh. The description outlines the general boundaries of their combined inheritance before delving into the specific portions for Ephraim.
"The allotment of the people of Joseph went from the Jordan by Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, into the wilderness, going up from Jericho into the hill country to Bethel." — The verse describes the boundaries of the Joseph tribes, but it's crucial to note that the actual expulsion of the Canaanites from these lands wasn't complete, leaving a lingering presence that would…
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Last reviewed October 2026