Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, Joshua · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI.
Verſ. 1. ANd the lot of the children of Joſeph, fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the eaſt, &c.] It is the opinion of ſome learned writers, that there was but one lot drawn for the children of Ioſeph, and that becauſe one half of the tribe of Manaſſeh, being already diſpoſed of without Iordan, it was judged the fitteſt way to joyn the other half of the tribe of Maneſſeh in one lot with the tribe of Ephraim, under the common name of the children of Joſeph; for, ſay they, by this means they made ſure that the children of Ioſeph ſhould be ſeated together in that part of Canaan, which the lot that was drawn out with that which had their name in it, did aſſigne to them. And this likewiſe, they ſeek to make good from the words of the text, both here where it ſpeaks of the inheritance of Ephraim & Manaſſeh, as comprehended in one lot, And the lot of the children of Joſeph, fell from Jordan, &c. and again, chap. 17.14. where the children of Ioſeph ſeem to complain of this, And the children of Joſeph spake unto Joſhua ſaying, why haſt thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit? But all things conſidered, I think it more probable that there were two ſeverall lots for the tribe of Ephraim and the half of Manaſſeh: firſt, becauſe thoſe words chap. 14.2. By lot was their inheritance —for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe, ſeems rather to imply, that there were ſeverall lots both for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe: ſecondly, becauſe the portion that fell to the tribe of Ephraim being deſcribed in the latter part of this chapter, it follows in the beginning of the next chapter, There was alſo a lot for the tribe of Manaſſeh: for do not thoſe words clearly intimate that there was one lot drawn for Ephraim, and another for Manaſſeh? and thirdly, becauſe the providence of God in ordering the lots muſt needs be the more wonderfull, if Iudahs lot coming forth firſt, the next two lots alſo that were drawn ſhould be theſe of Ephraim and Manaſſeh, the ſonnes of Ioſeph, immediately one after another, upon whom alſo God had transferred a part of Reubens birthright, as it is expreſſely ſaid, 1. Chron. 5.1, 2. And indeed that complaint of the ſonnes of Joſeph, chap. 17.14. Why haſt thou given we but one lot and one portion to inherit? was not meant of the drawing but one lot for them, but of the quantitie of land aſſigned to them for their portion, to wit, that it was no more then might well have been aſſigned for one tribe. For had they taken exception that there was but one lot for theſe two tribes, they would have conteſted about this when they made the lots, and not after their lot was drawn. And here in this place, the text ſpeaks of the lot of the children of Joſeph in the ſingular number, not becauſe there was but one lot drawn both for Ephraim and Manaſſeh, but becauſe the writer of this book intended, firſt to ſhew joyntly together where the inheritance of theſe two tribes lay, and then afterwards to ſhew ſeverally what each of them had for their portion. So that therefore in theſe firſt three verſes of this chapter the ſouth bounds of the inheritance of the ſonnes of Joſeph where it bordered upon Benjamins portion is deſcribed, to wit, that they began at that part of Jordan which was nigh unto Iericho, and ſo went up unto the water of Jericho, that is, to certain ſtreams that watered Iericho, called afterwards the waters of Eliſha, becauſe of that miracle which he wrought upon them, 2. Kings 2.21. (it is here ſaid to have been on the eaſt, and chap. 18.12. on the north ſide of Jericho, becauſe it lay north-eaſt of the city) and ſo to the wilderneſſe that goeth up from Iericho throughout mount Bethel, namely the wilderneſſe of Beth-aven chap. 18.12. and ſo from Bethel to Luz, and thence to the borders of Archi, to Ataroth called alſo Ataroth-addar verſe 5. and again, chap. 18 12. and ſo on ſtill weſtward by the ſeverall places here mentioned till they ended at laſt at the ſea, that is, the Mediterranean ſea.
Verſ 5. The border of their inheritance on the eaſt ſide was Ataroth-addar unto Beth-horon the upper.] Here begins the deſcription of that portion of the land of Canaan which was aſſigned to the tribe of Ephraim; which to us that cannot have any certain knowledge of that countrey as it was in thoſe times, muſt needs be very difficult and hard to be underſtood, eſpecially being deſcribed here in ſo few words as it is. In this firſt clauſe all is ſaid, that is ſaid, concerning the eaſtern bounds, to wit, that it reached from Ataroth in the ſouthern bounds, to Beth-horon in the north ſide; and ſo indeed the breadth of Ephraims portion is onelyonly here ſet forth where it was broadeſt eaſtward.
Verſ. 6. And the border went out toward the ſea to Michmethah, &c.] There being mention made in the former verſe of Beth-horon the upper, which lay on the north ſide of Ephraims lot, here now the text deſcribes how the north border went out from the ſaid Beth-horon firſt weſtward to Michmethah, and then eaſtward by ſeverall towns here mentioned, till it ended at laſt at Jordan.
Verſ. 8. The border went out from Tappuah weſtward, &c.] Here the text returns to ſhew what had been touched before, verſe 6. to wit, how the northern border went on weſtward beyond Michmethah toward the ſea, namely, that it went along by Tappuah unto the river Kanah, and ſo at laſt to the midland ſea.
Verſ 9. And the ſeparate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manaſſeh.] That is, beſides the cities that ſtood within the compaſſe of theſe bounds, the Ephramites had certain cities allotted them within the portion of Manaſſeh, as an addition, becauſe this portion here deſcribed was too little for them.
Verſ. 10. And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer, &c.] See the note chap. 17.12.