Joshua 16

4. The Portion of Ephraim

CHAPTER 16

1. The lot for the children of Joseph (Jos 16:1-4)

2. Ephraim’s portion (Jos 16:5-9)

3. Ephraim’s failure (Jos 16:10)

A wonderful lot was that of Joseph, beginning at Jordan, the river of death, up to Bethel, which means “the house of God.” Then the portion of Ephraim comes first. Ephraim with the blessed inheritance to be “doubly fruitful” (the meaning of Ephraim) fails. “They drove not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer.” Josephus, the Jewish historian, remarks on this: “They grew effeminate as to fighting any more against their enemies, but applied themselves to the cultivation of the land, which producing them great plenty and riches, they indulged in luxury and pleasure.” No doubt this tradition is correct. How this has been repeated in Christendom! What Ephraim became, joined to idols, we read in the prophet Hosea.