Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh. Joshua 16:1-10

Transcription

1 1 Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh Joshua 16:1-10

2 2 Text: Joshua 16:1-10, Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh 1. The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan of Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel. 2. It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz), crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth, 3. descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, ending at the sea. 4. So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance. 5. This was the territory of Ephraim, clan by clan: The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar in the east to Upper Beth Horon 6. and continued to the sea. From Micmethath on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah on the east. 7. Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. 8. From Tappuah the border went west to the Kanah Ravine and ended at the sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, clan by clan. 9. It also included all the towns and their villages that were set a- side for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites. 10. They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor. (NIV)

3 3 Introduction: I. Having assigned Judah s tribal limits, Israel now turns its attention to assigning land allotments to the descendants of Joseph; that is, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. (See Ziese). A. Land being designated is located in Cisjordan; that is, west of the Jordan River. 1. Half of the tribe of Manasseh had already been given an allotment in Transjordan; that is, east of the Jordan River. II. Ziese commented that Ephraim is given its land allotment before Manasseh in keeping with the younger brother s being put ahead of the older brother. A. Jacob the younger was chosen over Esau the firstborn twin. B. when nearing the end of life in Egypt, Jacob crossed his arms and blessed Ephraim the younger over Manasseh the older. C. Related Scriptures: 1. Genesis 46:20, In Egypt, Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. (NIV) 2. Genesis 48:1-22, Some time later Joseph was told, "Your father is ill." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph has come to you," Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed. Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me and said to me, 'I am going to make you fruitful and will increase your

4 4 numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.' "Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers. As I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath" (that is, Bethlehem). When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, "Who are these?" "They are the sons God has given me here," Joseph said to his father. Then Israel said, "Bring them to me so I may bless them." Now Israel's eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them. Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too." Then Joseph removed them from Israel's knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel's left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel's right hand, and brought them close to him. But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim's head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh's head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn. Then he blessed Joseph and said, "May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth." When

5 5 Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim's head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. Joseph said to him, "No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head." But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations." He blessed them that day and said, "In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.' " So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. Then Israel said to Joseph, "I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers. And to you, as one who is over your brothers, I give the ridge of land I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow." (NIV) 3. Genesis 49:22-26, "Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, because of your father's God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb. Your father's blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers. (NIV) III. Tribal boundaries and other matters were often determined by casting of lots.

6 Chronicles 24:5-19, They divided them impartially by drawing lots, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar. The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officials: Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites one family being taken from Eleazar and then one from Ithamar. The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, the fifth to Malkijah, the sixth to Mijamin, the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez, the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel, the twenty-first to Jakin, the twenty-second to Gamul, the twenty-third to Delaiah and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah. This was their appointed order of ministering when they entered the temple of the LORD, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their forefather Aaron, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him. (NIV) 2. Acts 1:26, And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (KJV) 3. Luke 1:9, According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. (KJV) A. At other times The Urim and The Thummim were used to determine the divine will.

7 Exodus 28:15, 30, "Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions the work of a skilled craftsman. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. (NIV) 2. Numbers 27:12-23, Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go up this mountain in the Abarim range and see the land I have given the Israelites. After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes." (These were the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.) Moses said to the LORD, "May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD's people will not be like sheep without a shepherd." So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the LORD. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in." Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD instructed through Moses. (NIV) IV. The land between Judah on the south and Ephraim-Manasseh on the north were later assigned to Dan and Benjamin. (See Ziese).

8 8 V. Jacob had officially adopted Joseph s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, and made them equal in every way to his other twelve sons. Commentary: Joshua 16:1, The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan of Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel. (NIV) I. The allotment for Joseph, A. This allotment follows a line which ran east to west, beginning at the Jordan River and ending on the Mediterranean shore, Ziese wrote. 1. Along the way familiar sites are encountered: from Jericho it ascends the central ridge to Bethel, descends past Beth Huron and reaches the coastal plain at Gezer, Ziese further wrote. B. The northern boundaries are described in Joshua 18:12-13, On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan, passed the northern slope of Jericho and headed west into the hill country, coming out at the desert of Beth Aven. From there it crossed to the south slope of Luz (that is, Bethel) and went down to Ataroth Addar on the hill south of Lower Beth Horon. (NIV) II. began at the Jordan (water) of Jericho, A. The Pulpit Commentary reads that these waters refer to a large fountain or spring that flows over the plain, from a small brook that flows, in the rainy season, into the Jordan.

9 9 B. The location of this fountain coincides with the northern border of Benjamin. (Pulpit Commentary) 1. Joshua 18:11-20, The lot came up for the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph: On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan, passed the northern slope of Jericho and headed west into the hill country, coming out at the desert of Beth Aven. From there it crossed to the south slope of Luz (that is, Bethel) and went down to Ataroth Addar on the hill south of Lower Beth Horon. From the hill facing Beth Horon on the south the boundary turned south along the western side and came out at Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim), a town of the people of Judah. This was the western side. The southern side began at the outskirts of Kiriath Jearim on the west, and the boundary came out at the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. The boundary went down to the foot of the hill facing the Valley of Ben Hinnom, north of the Valley of Rephaim. It continued down the Hinnom Valley along the southern slope of the Jebusite city and so to En Rogel. It then curved north, went to En Shemesh, continued to Geliloth, which faces the Pass of Adummim, and ran down to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. It continued to the northern slope of Beth Arabah and on down into the Arabah. It then went to the northern slope of Beth Hoglah and came out at the northern bay of the Salt Sea, at the mouth of the Jordan in the south. This was the southern boundary. The Jordan formed the boundary on the eastern side. These were the boundaries that marked out the inheritance of the clans of Benjamin on all sides. (NIV) III. east of the waters of Jericho,

10 10 A. Jericho had water and, therefore, became an oasis in an arid land. IV. and went up from there through the (wilderness) desert, A. This desert appears to be the wilderness of Bethaven. 1. Joshua 18:12, On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan, passed the northern slope of Jericho and headed west into the hill country, coming out at the desert of Beth Aven. (NIV) V. into the hill country of (Mount) Bethel. A. Bethel (house of God), located twelve (12) miles north of Jerusalem, is mentioned more often in the Bible than any other city except Jerusalem. (Youngblood) Joshua 16:2, It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz), crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth, (NIV) I. It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz), A. Genesis 28:19, He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz. (NIV) B. The old Luz was replaced by the new Bethel. 1. This is similar to a second Jericho s being built years after its being destroyed, but not on exactly the same place. II. crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth, A. The Arkites were descended from Canaan. (Youngblood )

11 11 B. Ataroth was located on the border between Ephraim and Benjamin and may be the same as Ataroth Addar and Ataroth Adar. (Youngblood) 1. Joshua 16:5, This was the territory of Ephraim, clan by clan: The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar in the east to Upper Beth Horon. (NIV) 2. Joshua 18:13, From there it crossed to the south slope of Luz (that is, Bethel) and went down to Ataroth Addar on the hill south of Lower Beth Horon. (NIV) 3. 2 Samuel 15:32, When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head. (NIV) 4. 2 Samuel 16:16, Then Hushai the Arkite, David's friend, went to Absalom and said to him, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" (NIV) 5. 1 Chronicles 27:33, Ahithophel was the king's counselor. Hushai the Arkite was the king's friend. (NIV) Joshua 16:3, descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, ending at the sea. (NIV) I. descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites (Japhleti), A. These people, evidently descendants of a person named Japhlet, lived near the southern border of Ephraim. (Youngblood) II. as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and,

12 12 A. Upper and Lower Horon (house of [the god] Horon) were named after Horon, the Canaanite god of the underworld and were separated by only a few miles. These cities were located on the border between the territories of Benjamin and Ephraim. These cities were assigned to Ephraim and given to the Kohathites. (Youngblood) 1. Joshua 21:20-22, The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted towns from the tribe of Ephraim: In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Gezer, Kibzaim and Beth Horon, together with their pasturelands four towns. (NIV) 2. Upper and Lower refer to the elevation of these respective cities. (Youngblood) III. and on to Gezer, a. Upper Horon was two thousand (2000) feet above sea level. b. Lower Horon was twelve hundred (1,200) feet above sea level. c. Joshua 10:10, The LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great victory at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. (NIV) A. Gezer (portion, division) was an ancient Canaanite city located twenty (20) miles west of Jerusalem. (Youngblood)

13 Joshua 10:33, Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army until no survivors were left. (NIV) IV. ending at the Mediterranean sea. Joshua 16:4, So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance. (NIV) I. So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance. Joshua 16:5, This was the territory of Ephraim, clan by clan: The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar in the east to Upper Beth Horon. (NIV) I. This was the territory of Ephraim, clan by clan: Note: Remember that Joshua was of the tribe of Ephraim and a descendant of Joseph. II. The boundary of their inheritance went, Note: The borders of the territories allotted to Ephraim and Manasseh were not described in as great detail as were the borders of the tribe of Judah. III. from Ataroth Addar in the east, A. Ataroth Addar (Ataroth Adar) was a place located on the border of Ephraim and Benjamin. (Youngblood) IV. to Upper Beth Horon and, A. See the notes above on Joshua 16:3 under II-A.

14 14 V. continued to the Mediterranean sea. VI. From Micmethath on the north, A. Micmethath was located on the border of Ephraim and Manasseh. (Youngblood) VII. it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, A. Taanath Shiloh was a city situated between Michmethath (hiding place) and Janoah and was located seven (7) miles southeast of Shechem. (Youngblood) VIII. passing by it to Janoah on the east. A. Janoah (he rests), also known as Janohah, was a town on the northern border of Ephraim about seven (7) miles southeast of Shechem. (Youngblood) Joshua 16:7, Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. (NIV) I. Then it went down from Janoah, II. to Ataroth and, A. Ataroth (crowns, diadems), a place on the border between Ephraim and Benjamin, may be the same place as Ataroth Addar and Ataroth Adar. (Youngblood) III. Naarah, 1. See notes above on verse 5, III-A.

15 15 A. Naarah (girl) was a city in the territory of Ephraim (also called Naaran or Naarath) located near the borders of Benjamin and Manasseh, about five (5) miles northeast of Jericho. (Youngblood) IV. touched Jericho, and, V. came out at the Jordan. Joshua 16:8, From Tappuah the border went west to the Kanah Ravine and ended at the sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, clan by clan. (NIV) I. From Tappuah the border went, A. Tappuah (apple) was a border city of Ephraim. (Youngblood) II. west to the Kanah (River) ravine, A. This brook (or gorge) served as a boundary point between Ephraim and Manasseh. (Youngblood) III. and ended at the Mediterranean sea. IV. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, clan by clan. Joshua 16:9, It also included all the towns and their villages that were set a-side for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites. (NIV) I. It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites. A. The cities that were separated from the tribe of Manasseh were given to Ephraim.

16 Joshua 17:9, Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine. There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the sea. (NIV) Joshua 16:10, They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor. (NIV) I. They did not dislodge the Canaanites, A. Canaanites were established in Palestine before 2000 B.C. and were a highly civilized people when Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River. Canaanite history ended with the Israelite conquest of the land although certain segments of their culture remained to make both positive and negative impacts on the Israelites. (Youngblood) B. The Ephraimites should have and, with God s help, could have dislodged the Canaanites, but they failed to do so! C. It was not until the days of Solomon, and the intervention of the king of Egypt, that the Canaanites were finally dislodged Kings 9:16, (Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire. He killed its Canaanite inhabitants and then gave it as a wedding gift to his daughter, Solomon's wife. (NIV) 2. Joshua 10:33, Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army until no survivors were left. (NIV)

17 17 D. The Pulpit Commentary plainly states that Ephraim had grown slack in this matter in fulfillment of the Divine Command to dislodge all heathens in the land. 1. Judah evidently tried, but failed to dislodge the Jebusites. a. Joshua 15:63, Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah. (NIV) 2. Evidently Ephraim just didn t try to dislodge the Canaanites. II. living in Gezer, A. See notes above on verse 3 under III-A. III. to this day, IV. the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim, V. but they are required to do forced labor. A. This accommodation was not what God had commanded! B. This arrangement was financially advantageous and spiritually detrimental for Ephraim. Conclusion: I. God was good to the descendants of Joseph by counting Ephraim and Manasseh as two tribes instead of one and giving them liberal allotments of land.

18 18 II. However, Ephraim did not drive the Canaanites out as God had commanded. (Smith) A. They could have done so, but they did not. (See Smith). B. In this way they showed disdain for both God s blessings and his commands. III. In what ways, if any, are we like the Ephraimites?

19 19 Questions Joshua 16: Why did the descendants of Joseph get two tribal land allotments (Ephraim and Manasseh) and the other sons of Jacob get only one? 2. Which tribe received the largest land allotment? Why was this the case? 3. Which tribal territories were between Ephraim and Manasseh on the north and Judah on the south? 4. Why was Ephraim s land assignment given before Manasseh s when Manasseh was the older son of Joseph?

20 What were lots? How were decisions made by casting lots? 6. Which tribal allotment surrounded Simeon s allotment? (See a map). 7. The southern boundaries of Joseph s descendants are given in Joshua and the northern boundaries are given in Joshua. 8. What is indicated by the words upper and lower as used in Upper and Lower Horon? 9. Of what tribe was Joshua a member? Where was he buried?

21 Were the boundaries of Ephraim and Manasseh given in as great detail as the boundaries of Judah? If not, why not? 11. Judah did not dislodge the Jebusites and Ephraim did not dislodge the Canaanites? How are these situations similar? How are they different? 12. Of what sin were the Ephraimites guilty in regard to their failure to dislodge the Canaanites? 13. What problems were likely to be encountered by Israel because the Canaanites continued to live among them even as indentured servants? 14. Did Judah s failure to dislodge the Jebusites present a similar danger? If so, what was that danger?

22 In what ways, if any, are we like the Ephraimites in regard to the Canaanites?