Joshua 16

Chapter 16. The following is allotment of Joseph tribe as a whole. Joseph’s tribe was split into two half tribes Ephraim and Manasseh. But in this section Joshua is discussing the allotment of these two half-tribes together (Joshua 16:1-4). Following this is attention of Ephraim’s and Manasseh’s separate boundaries (16:5-17:11). Joshua mentions the failure of Ephraim to totally drive out the people of Gezer. Instead they allowed the people to remain in the land under tribute. This is mentioned as a failure because the Lord had before commanded Israel to completely annihilate the inhabitants of Canaan. This was to be for the protection of the future of Israel. Joshua also mentions briefly the failure of Manasseh for the same reasons (17:12-13). Their tolerance of these nations would later sow the seeds of their own destruction later. The wickedness of these nations was partly the reason for the LORD’s instruction to totally annihilate them so that their would existence would not lead Israel into idolatry.