Joshua 16

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 16:9

And the separate cities. Literally, and the cities divided off. The word "were," in our version, is misplaced. It should be read thus: "And there were cities divided off and assigned to the tribe of Ephraim in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh" (see note on verse 5). This fact, together with the compensation given to Manasseh, may serve to explain the cohesion of the ten tribes in opposition to Judah. The boundaries of the latter tribe were more strictly defined, her... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 16:10

And they drave not out. The Ephraimites soon grew slack in the fulfilment of the Divine command. There is a distinction, apparently, between this passage and Joshua 15:63 . There the tribe of Judah was unable to drive out the Jebusites from their stronghold, and no mention is made of tribute. Here the Ephraimites seem deliberately to have preferred the easier task of reducing the Canaanites to tribute to the sterner and more difficult task of destroying them utterly. HOMILIES BY W.F.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 16:10

Canaanites still in the land. I. CANAANITES STILL IN THE LAND WERE A WITNESS TO THE FAILURE OF THE JEWS TO ACCOMPLISH GOD 'S WILL . They may have failed But these Canaanites were a cause of future trouble and a constant temptation to idolatry and immorality. We shall always suffer when we neglect God's will for worldly convenience. II. CANAANITES REMAINING IN THE LAND WERE AN INSTANCE OF THE MIXED CONDITION OF HUMAN ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 16

This and Joshua 17:0 are closely connected, and assign the boundaries of “the children of Joseph,” i. e of the kindred tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. These two tribes, or more strictly speaking, the tribe of Ephraim and the half tribe of Manasseh, drew one lot only, no doubt, because it was all along intended that their inheritances should be adjacent. These chapters accordingly describe(1) the southern boundary of the whole territory of the children of Joseph Joshua 16:1-4;(2) the limits of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 16:1

To the wilderness - Strike out “to,” for the word is in apposition to “lot.” The wilderness is Joshua 18:12 “the wilderness of Bethaven.” read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 16:2

Of Archi - (Read “of the Archite,” also a designation of David’s friend Hushai (2 Samuel 15:32; 2 Samuel 16:16, etc.). The word is derived from Erech Genesis 10:10. But whether there was in the neighborhood of Bethel a place bearing this Babylonian name, or whether a colony from the East had settled in this spot and brought the name with them, is unknown.Ataroth - Called Joshua 16:5; Joshua 18:13 Ataroth-adar (= “crowns of fame or greatness”) perhaps to distinguish it from two other places... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 16:3

Of Japhleti - Rather “of the Japhletite.” All history of the name is lost. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 16:5-8

From the abrupt manner in which the statements are introduced, as well as from their imperfect character, there is probability in the conjecture that some words have, in these verses, fallen out of the text. Few of the places are known for certain. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 16:9

The verb “were,” introduced by the King James Version in this verse should be omitted; and the full stop after Joshua 16:8 replaced by a colon. The purport of Joshua 16:9 is simply to add to the inheritance of Ephraim, defined by the preceding context, “the separate cities” or more properly “single cities” which were allotted to them in addition within the borders of Manasseh. The reasons for granting these additional cities to the Ephraimites can only be conjectured. Perhaps the territory... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 16

A.M. 2560. B.C. 1444. The lot of Ephraim and Manasseh, Joshua 16:1-4 . Of Ephraim in particular, Joshua 16:5-10 . read more

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