“Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim.”
Context: The book of Joshua documents the conquest of the Promised Land by the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua, following the death of Moses. After crossing the Jordan River, the land was divided among the twelve tribes of Israel as an inheritance, according to God’s command.
Manasseh and Tappuah: Manasseh was one of the tribes of Israel, named after Joseph’s firstborn son. In the division of the land, Manasseh received the land of Tappuah as part of their inheritance. Tappuah was a town located within the territory assigned to Manasseh.
The border of Manasseh and Ephraim: Although Tappuah was within the territory of Manasseh, this verse highlights that Tappuah was situated on the border between Manasseh and Ephraim.
Ephraim’s ownership of Tappuah: Despite Tappuah’s location within Manasseh’s territory, the verse reveals that the children of Ephraim, another tribe of Israel, actually possessed Tappuah. This suggests that the border between Manasseh and Ephraim was somewhat fluid or that Ephraim exerted control over Tappuah.
