College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Joshua 16 - Introduction
A DIGEST OF CHAPTER 16
The territory of the children of Joseph. Joseph was one of the twelve sons of Jacob, but no tribe bore his name. Instead, two tribes were formed from the descendants of the two sons of JosephEphraim and Manasseh. The land given to these two sons was outlined in general at the beginning of this chapter. The land lay between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea and was in the very heart of the territory.
The boundaries of Ephraim. Ephraim was the younger son of Joseph's children, but he was given the first choice of the land allotted to the sons of Joseph. His territory lay south of the territory given to Manasseh and his border was shared with Dan and Benjamin on the south.
The later history of Ephraim. The children of Ephraim settled in some cities which were outside the boundaries of their territory. These cities were in Manasseh, their brethren to the north. On the other hand, the children of Ephraim did not drive all the Canaanites from their cities. The city of Gezer, in particular, was occupied by the Canaanites who were made subject to task work.
LESSONS FOR LEARNING
1.
All things work together for good. The entire story of Joseph is an exposition of the central theme of the eighth chapter of the book of Romans. The Apostle Paul wrote, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). The descendants of Joseph must have reveled in the history of their ancestor. They must have known of his suffering in prison. They must have thanked God many times for his deliverance and his exaltation to the rank of second man in the great kingdom of Egypt. As God fulfilled His promise to Joseph, so He fulfilled His promise to His children. They were given a bountiful inheritance in the Promised Land.
2.
Joseph was a fruitful bough. When Jacob blessed his twelve sons, he said of Joseph, Joseph is a fruitful bough (Genesis 49:22). Jacob went on to describe him as being like a fruitful tree which was planted by a well where the roots could run deep and find water. He depicted Joseph as a tree whose branches ran over the wall. Such was certainly the case of Ephraim as we read that he not only fathered the children who inherited the Promised Land but that his children inherited some of the finest land of Canaan. In addition, Ephraim had separate cities which were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh (Joshua 16:9). All God's children should strive to be like the descendants of Joseph through Ephraim and Manasseh. With the blessing of God upon them, they would indeed be as fruitful boughs.
3.
There is bad in the best of us. The children of Joseph failed to drive out the Canaanites (Joshua 16:10). These Canaanites dwelt in Gezer. The Ephraimites did make them to become servile and placed them under tribute. Nonetheless, their instructions were to drive out these people. Since they failed to do this, we read that they were like thorns in their sides and pricks in their eyes (Judges 2:3).
TEN QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER 16
1.
What two tribes are called children of Joseph?
2.
What river was on the east border of these tribes?
3.
What sea was on their west border?
4.
Near what town did the southern border of the children of Joseph begin on the east?
5.
Was Beth-el along the southern border of the children of Joseph?
6.
Along what river did the northern border of Ephraim run out to the sea?
7.
Did Jericho belong to Ephraim?
8.
In what tribe's territory did Ephraim inhabit separate cities?
9.
From what town did Ephraim fail to drive out the Canaanites?
10.
Were these Canaanites made to serve under tribute?