Verse 1

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 throughout mount Bethel,

Children of Joseph — That is, of Ephraim, and the half tribe of Manasseh, which are here put together in one; because in these first verses he speaks of them in common; and then of their several portions.

Verse 4

So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.

Manasseh — That is, half Manasseh.

Their inheritance — Their several portions which here follow. It is said, they took their inheritance, which also Judah had done before them, because the tribes of Judah and Joseph did take their inheritances before the rest; and it was fit they should do so, for the security of the main camp, and the body of the people which were at Gilgal, chap18:5.

Verse 5

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 Atarothaddar, unto Bethhoron the upper;

East-side — That is, the north-east side. It is no wonder, if some of these descriptions are dark to us at this distance of time; there having been so many alterations made in places, and so many circumstances, being now altogether undiscoverable. But this is certain, that all the descriptions here mentioned, were then evident to the Israelites, because these were the foundations of all the possessions which then they took, and peaceably possessed in succeeding ages.

Verse 6

And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and the border went about eastward unto Taanathshiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah;

Toward the sun — The midland sea, towards the west.

Verse 7

And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan.

To Jericho — Not to the city of Jericho, which belonged to Benjamin's lot, chap18:21, but to its territory.

Verse 9

And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.

The separate cities — That is, besides those cities which were within Ephraim's bounds, he had some other cities, to which all of all their territories were annexed out Manasseh's portion, because his tribe was all here, and was larger than Manasseh's.