Chapter 16 of the Book of Joshua in the King James Version (KJV) describes the division of the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel. The chapter focuses on the allotment of land to the tribe of Ephraim.
The chapter begins by outlining the territory given to the descendants of Joseph, which included both the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. The borders of their inheritance are specified, extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.
However, the tribe of Ephraim encountered difficulties in fully possessing their allotted land due to the presence of the Canaanites living in the region. Instead of expelling them completely, the Ephraimites allowed them to dwell among them as forced laborers.
Despite these challenges, the Ephraimites were unable to drive out the Canaanites entirely. As a result, they occupied the land alongside them in certain areas. However, they did gain control over some strategic cities, including Gezer.
This brief summary of Joshua 16 provides an overview of the chapter, but to explore the depths and nuances of each verse in its context, you can click the links below for a verse-by-verse analysis: