Josué 16

VBL · Chapter 16/24

1La frontera para el reparto a los descendientes de José iba desde el Jordán cerca de Jericó, luego al este de las fuentes de Jericó y a través del desierto desde Jericó hasta la región montañosa de Betel.

2Desde Betel (o Luz) continuaba hasta el límite de Atarot el arquita.

3Luego descendía hacia el oeste hasta el límite de los jafletitas y el límite de la parte baja de Bet-horón, hasta Gezer, y luego hasta el mar.

4Esta fue la asignación que recibieron los descendientes de José, Efraín y Manasés.

5Este fue el territorio asignado a la tribu de Efraín, por familias. El límite de su asignación iba desde Atarot-addar, en el este, hasta la parte alta de Bet-horón

6y luego hasta el mar. Desde Micmetat, en el norte, el límite giraba hacia el este, pasando por Tanat-Siló, al este de Janoa.

7Desde Janoa bajaba hasta Atarot y Nará, luego tocaba Jericó y terminaba en el Jordán.

8Desde Tapúaj, el límite corría hacia el oeste hasta el arroyo de Caná y luego salía al mar. Esta era la tierra asignada a la tribu de Efraín, por familias.

9También se le asignaron a la tribu de Efraín algunas ciudades con sus aldeas que estaban en la tierra asignada a la tribu de Manasés.

10Sin embargo, no expulsaron a los cananeos que vivían en Gezer, por lo que los cananeos viven en medio de la tribu de Efraín hasta el día de hoy, pero sometidos a trabajos forzados.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

A description of the territory given to the sons of Joseph: the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, with a note that the Canaanites of Gezer were not driven out.

Explanation

Ephraim and Manasseh were the two sons of Joseph, and so 'the tribe of Joseph' received a double portion of land - reflecting the special blessing Jacob gave Joseph in Genesis 48. The note that the Canaanites remained in Gezer, though subjected as forced laborers, is a small but significant warning sign: the conquest was not total, and these remaining communities would later become a source of idolatrous influence in the book of Judges. It is a reminder that leaving 'small' acts of disobedience or incomplete commitments tends to grow over time.

Fun facts

  • Ephraim would become so influential that its name came to be used as a synonym for the northern kingdom of Israel in later prophetic texts, such as in Hosea.
  • Gezer, the city not conquered here, would only be taken centuries later by Pharaoh of Egypt, who gave it as a dowry to his daughter when she married Solomon (1 Kings 9:16).

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Josué 16:1The border of the tribe of Joseph begins at the Jordan and points like the wilderness of Jericho and the hill country of Bethel — again natural landmarks that served as a living reference for those who lived there, with no need for drawn maps.
  2. Josué 16:2The border of Ephraim goes out from Bethel toward Luz, passing through the territory of the Archites to Ataroth.
  3. Josué 16:3On the west side, the line goes down to the territory of the Japhletites, passes by Lower Beth-horon and Gezer, and ends at the sea.
  4. Josué 16:4So the descendants of Joseph, divided into Manasseh and Ephraim, receive their share of the promised land.
  5. Josué 16:5The specific description of Ephraim's territory begins here, with the eastern border running from Ataroth-addar to Upper Beth-horon.
  6. Josué 16:6The border continues west near Michmethah, then turns back east to Taanath-shiloh and Janohah.
  7. Josué 16:7From Janohah the line goes down to Ataroth and Naarath, touches Jericho, and ends at the Jordan.
  8. Josué 16:8From Tappuah the border runs west to the river Kanah, ending at the sea — this closes the outline of Ephraim.
  9. Josué 16:9Ephraim also receives some cities that lay physically within Manasseh's territory, a common arrangement in this division.
  10. Josué 16:10The Canaanites living in Gezer were not driven out, but became forced labor, paying tribute to the Ephraimites. It's another example of how holding land by lot didn't necessarily mean total expulsion of the previous residents.

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