Dave Burnette's Commentary

Joshua Chapter 16

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Joshua 
Date Penned: (1406-1370 BC)
Overview: A Record of Israel in the Promised Land (c 1-24)
Theme: Dividing the Promised Land (c 13-24)
Message: Assignment of the Land West of the Jordan  (v 1-10)

Joshua 16 Commentary

(16:1-4) Joseph's Blessing - Although Joseph was one of Jacob's 12 sons, he did not have a tribe named after him. This was because Jacob took Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own (Genesis 48:5), and their inheritance fulfilled the blessing Jacob had spoken over Joseph and by extension his sons (Genesis 49:22-26). Through his two sons, Joseph, as the oldest son of Jacob's wife Rachel, received a double portion of the inheritance. The largest territory and the greatest influence in the northern half of Israel belonged to their tribes.


(16:10) A Pattern for Future Struggles - Occasionally the text says the Israelites did not drive out the people of the land (see also 15:63; 17:12). This was contrary to God's explicit desire and command (13:1-6). The failure to completely remove the pagan people and their gods from the land would cause many problems for the nation. The book of Judges records many of these struggles.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Follow the Instructions

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we Continue in the book of Joshua with Chapter 16 and we see the Dividing of the Promised land. Today we see the double portion of the land given to Manasseh and Ephraim. What catches my eye is verse 10 where it is recorded, "they drave not out the Canaanites" as they were instructed when they received their land. The failure to follow all the instruction of the Lord will cause many problems in the upcoming book of Judges.  In making application we see the need to follow the Lord's Word 100%. Many today will see how little they can get by with as it applies to their needs but the Lord knows all and gives us instruction for the present and the future. It reminds me of teaching my kids to drive. I tell them to use their mirrors but to always check their blindspots. They have missed a couple of close calls due to not following our principles today of following all the directions. If it is in the Bible it needs our attention and obedience. How about you? Do you tend to not follow all the instruction of scriptures? We can't pick and choose for the Lord knows all and instructs us in all things through His word. Let us learn from todays text to follow all the instruction of the Bible.  

 

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Joshua 16

Joshua 16

 1And 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,

 2And goeth out from Bethel to Luz, and passeth along unto the borders of Archi to Ataroth,

 3And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Bethhoron the nether, and to Gezer; and the goings out thereof are at the sea.

 4So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.

 5And 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;

 6And 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;

 7And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan.

 8The border went out from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families.

 9And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.

 10And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.