5 And the border of the sons of Ephraim is by their families; and the border of their inheritance is on the east, Atroth-Addar unto Beth-Horon the upper; 6 and the border hath gone out at the sea, to Michmethah on the north, and the border hath gone round eastward 'to' Taanath-Shiloh, and passed over it eastward to Janohah, 7 and gone down from Janohah 'to' Ataroth, and to Naarath, and touched against Jericho, and gone out at the Jordan. 8 From Tappuah the border goeth westward unto the brook of Kanah, and its outgoings have been at the sea: this 'is' the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Ephraim, for their families. 9 And the separate cities of the sons of Ephraim 'are' in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh, all the cities and their villages;
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 16:5-9
Complete ConciseChapter Contents
The sons of Joseph.
This and the following chapter should not be separated. They give the lots of Ephraim and Manasseh, the children of Joseph, who, next to Judah, were to have the post of honour, and therefore had the first and best portion in the northern part of Canaan, as Judah in the southern part. God's people now, as of old, suffer his enemies to remain. Blessed Lord, when will all our enemies be subdued? 1 Corinthians 15:26. Do thou drive them all out; thou alone canst do it. These settled boundaries may remind us, that our situation and provision in this life, as well as our future inheritance, are appointed by the only wise and righteous God, and we should be content with our portion, since he knows what is best for us, and all we have is more than we deserve.