JOSHUA 16 Introduction In this chapter have an account of the inheritance of Joseph divided between his sons Ephraim and

Manasseh. The part allotted to Ephraim was a fertile and beautiful district, perhaps in many respects the most desirable in the whole country. Nevertheless, the whole history of Ephraim was a sad one for long centuries and their failure began here and is recorded in the words, " nd they drove not out the !anaanites that dwelt in "e#er$. Ephraim and West Manasseh (vv.1- ! 1 The lot fell to the children of Joseph from the Jordan, by Jericho, to the waters of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goes up from Jericho through the mountains to %ethel, 2 then went out from %ethel to &u#, passed along to the border of the rchites at taroth, 3 and went down westward to the boundary of the Japhletites, as far as the boundary of &ower %eth 'oron to "e#er( and it ended at the sea. 4 )o the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, too* their inheritance. a. The lot fell to the children of Joseph from the Jordan, by Jericho, to the waters of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goes up from Jericho through the mountains to Bethel +v.,-. The first stage is from Jordan to the mount of %ethel and it describes our /ourney as !hristian. The line starts from Jordan, which is the beginning of our spiritual life where the waters of death have yielded to the ar* of "od0s strength, and given us access to the land which is our possession. Then by Jericho which reminds us of the /udgment that awaits those people because of unbelief. nd to the waters of Jericho, that is the stream of divine blessing to nourish our spirit. Nevertheless, there is wilderness that opposes our /ourney all the way up to the mount of %ethel which is the "'ouse of "od". ". Then went out from Bethel to Luz +v.1-. The second stage is from %ethel to &u# only and yet of vast importance. &u# is the old name of the city of %ethel itself and there was a point in time they became identified. %ut at any rate, it is important to notice that after %ethel we come to &u#. &u# means separation and that is sanctification. %eing in the 'ouse of "od or being part of the %ody of !hrist we need to be always free from the defilement of the world. 2e need to be sanctified by the 2ord of "od on a daily basis. c. assed along to the border of the !rchites at !taroth +v.1-. 1

 The third stage is the boundary that passes over to the border of the rchites at taroth. rchite came from the word arach, which means "to advance or ma*e progress"( and therefore, rchite is a man of progress. taroth means "crowns", which reminds us that we must continue our advance or our progress in the wor* of "od until we receive our eternal crown as 3aul said in ,!or. 4.15 + !nd e"eryone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things# $ow they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.d. !nd went down westward to the boundary of the Japhletites, as far as the boundary of Lower Beth %oron to &ezer +v.6-. In the fourth stage the line descends which tells of our contact with the world carrying with us that great commision. Then we come to the border of the Japhletite, which means, "one who causes to escape"( and then to the border of the lower %ethhoron, which means, "the house of wrath"( and then as far as "e#er, which means, "isolation". In other words, we are sent into the world with the "ospel of !hrist, that will help people who would believe to scape from the wrath of /ugement and from eternal isolation. e. !nd it ended at the sea +v.6-. 7inally, the border runs to the sea whose shore would be li*e a place of rest now being desired by the storm8tossed people after hearing the "ospel. The line ends here at the haven of the sea where "od will surely bring those who believe. #he $and o% Ephraim (vv.&-1'! ' The border of the children of Ephraim, according to their families, was thus. The border of their inheritance on the east side was taroth ddar as far as 9pper %eth 'oron. ( nd the border went out toward the sea on the north side of Michmethath( then the border went around eastward to Taanath )hiloh, and passed by it on the east of Janohah. ) Then it went down from Janohah to taroth and Naarah, reached to Jericho, and came out at the Jordan. * The border went out from Tappuah westward to the %roo* :anah, and it ended at the sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim according to their families. + The separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages. 1, nd they did not drive out the !anaanites who dwelt in "e#er( but the !anaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day and have become forced laborers. %. The border of the children of -phraim...+v.5-. lthough Manasseh was the older brother, Ephraim is mentioned first. 2

 This is often the way of "od; It was bel and not !ain who was blessed, even though !ain was the firstborn. Jacob and Esau were twins, but Esau was older. Jacob, however, was the blessed one. Ishmael was braham<s firstborn. Isaac, however, was the child of promise. aron was the elder son of mram and Jochebed, yet it was their second8born son, Moses, who was called to deliver "od<s people. This pattern is seen throughout )cripture. 2hy= It suggests that "od forgets about our first life and our new life is what "od focuses on and blesses. $>ou must be born again,? Jesus told Nicodemus +John 6-. $Therefore if any man be in !hrist, he is a new creature. old things are passed away( behold, all things are become new,? 3aul told the !orinthians +1 !orinthians 5.,@-. Aurs is the "od of the second8born and the second chance. (. !nd they did not dri"e out the .anaanites who dwelt in &ezer/ but the .anaanites dwell among the -phraimites to this day and ha"e become forced laborers# +v.,5-. This was wrong for Ephraim to have done( they were to completely destroy these nations and not put them to tribute. The 'oly )pirit is never satisfied with half measures or good enough( every form of evil must be destroyed in our lives. nd it is not enough that we merely have victory over our wea*nesses( wea*ness itself must be removed. This can be done only by believing and understanding that everything comes to us through !hrist Jesus, who is the Ab/ect of our 7aith. nd remmember also that the 'oly )pirit is always there to help us( performing the wor* which only 'e can perform. )onc*usion These settled boundaries remind us that, whatever our situation or provision in this life, they were all /ust given to us. Even our future inheritances, they are all appointed by the only wise and righteous "od. 2e should be content with our portion, since he *nows what is best for us( because, all we have is more than what we deserve.