The Land Given to Joseph’s Descendants

¹The territory assigned to Joseph’s descendants began east of the springs of Jericho near the Jordan, then turned north through the desert and into the hill country as far as Bethel.

²From Bethel (that is, Luz), it crossed over to Arkite territory at Ataroth.[#16:2 As translated from the Septuagint. The Hebrew reads “From Bethel to Luz.”; #16:2 The Arkites were descendants of Arki, a son of Canaan and grandson of Ham (see Gen. 10:15–17).; #16:2 Or “Ataroth Addar.”]

³It then descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the border of Lower Beth Horon and Gezer, ending at the Mediterranean Sea.

⁴Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph, inherited this entire territory.

The Land Given to Ephraim’s Descendants

⁵The southern boundary of the territory of the tribe of Ephraim went from Ataroth Addar in the east to Upper Beth Horon

⁶then westward to the Sea. The northern boundary went from Michmethath to the east of Taanath-Shiloh and going further to the east of Janoah.[#16:6 Scholars identify Janoah with modern Yanun, eight miles southeast of Nablus.]

⁷From Janoah the border descended to Ataroth and Naarah. It touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan River.

^8-9From Tappuah, it proceeded westward to the Kanah Ravine and ended at the Sea. The inheritance of the families of the tribe of Ephraim also included the towns and villages set apart for them within the territory of West Manasseh.[#16:8–9 See 17:8–10.]

¹⁰However, the Ephraimites did not drive out the Canaanites from the city of Gezer, but they conscripted the Canaanites to serve them to this day.