5 Now this was the territory of the sons of Ephraim according to their families : the border of their inheritance eastward was Ataroth-addar , as far as upper Beth-horon . 6 Then the border went westward at Michmethath on the north , and the border turned about eastward to Taanath-shiloh and continued beyond it to the east of Janoah . 7 It went down from Janoah to Ataroth and to Naarah , then reached Jericho and came out at the Jordan . 8 From Tappuah the border continued westward to the brook of Kanah , and it ended e at the sea . This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Ephraim according to their families , 9 together with the cities which were set apart for the sons of Ephraim in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh , all the cities with their villages .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 16:5-9
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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.