Joshua 16

Land Is Given to Ephraim and Manasseh

1The land given to the two tribes in the family line of Joseph began at the Jordan River. Their border started east of the springs of Jericho. It went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel. Bethel is also called Luz. From Bethel the border crossed over to Ataroth. That’s where the Arkites live. Then it went west down to the territory of the Japhletites. It went all the way to the area of Lower Beth Horon. It went on to Gezer. The border came to an end at the Mediterranean Sea.

The tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim were from the family line of Joseph. So they received that land as their share.

Here is the territory given to the tribe of Ephraim, according to its family groups.

The border of their share of land started at Ataroth Addar in the east. It went to Upper Beth Horon. It continued toward the Mediterranean Sea. From Mikmethath on the north, it curved toward the east. It went to Taanath Shiloh. It passed by Taanath Shiloh to Janoah on the east. Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah. It touched Jericho and came to an end at the Jordan River. From Tappuah the border went west to the Kanah Valley. It came to an end at the Mediterranean Sea. That was the land given to the tribe of Ephraim. Each family group received its share.

The tribe of Ephraim was also given other towns and villages that were set apart for them. Those towns and villages were in the share of land given to the tribe of Manasseh.

10 The people of Ephraim didn’t drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer. The Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim to this day. But they are forced to work hard for the people of Ephraim.