The big picture
Joshua 16 opens in verse 1 with “And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 5 with “And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: even the…”, and closes in verse 10 with “And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell…” Repeated or prominent terms include children, border, Beth, Ephraim, inheritance. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Joshua · King James Version · 10Joshua 16:1-5
1–5: The lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the…
Joshua 16:1–5 opens with “And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on…” and reaches “And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: even the border…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Joshua 16 develops its own movement around children, border, Beth, Ephraim, inheritance, with particular weight carried by Beth, children, goeth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the…” Naming Jericho and Beth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Joshua 16:1-5
King James Version1And 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 Beth-el,
2And goeth out from Beth-el to Luz, and passeth along unto the borders of Archi to Ataroth,
3And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Beth-horon the nether, and to Gezer: and the goings out thereof are at the sea.
4So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.
5And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: even the border of their inheritance on the east side was Ataroth-addar, unto Beth-horon the upper;
Joshua 16:6-10
6–10: The border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and…
Joshua 16:6–10 opens with “And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and the border went…” and reaches “And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Joshua 16 develops its own movement around children, border, Beth, Ephraim, inheritance, with particular weight carried by border, children, Canaanites.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and the border went about eastward unto…” Naming Janohah and Michmethah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Joshua 16:6-10
King James Version6And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and the border went about eastward unto Taanath-shiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah;
7And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan.
8The border went out from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families.
9And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.
10And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Joshua 16:1 begins with “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…”
Where the chapter turns
Joshua 16:5 forms a natural hinge: “And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: even the border of their inheritance on the east side was Ataroth-addar…”
The final note
Joshua 16:10 leaves the reader with “And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words children, border, Beth, Ephraim, inheritance, Jericho help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Whose perspective receives unexpected attention?
Hagar's. The messenger finds her, names her and speaks about her future.
What does Ishmael's name commemorate?
God has heard her affliction, according to verse 11.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.