Good News – Joshua 16
Introduction
As a whole, Chapter 16 of the book of Joshua provides a physical description of the land rights for Joseph’s sub-tribal inheritance in Israel. The tribe of Joseph was divided by his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Chapter 17 gives the boundaries of Manasseh beyond the Jordan and north of Ephraim. The bulk of Chapter 16 deals specifically with the area allotted to Ephraim.
Introduction
As a whole, Chapter 16 of the book of Joshua provides a physical description of the land rights for Joseph’s sub-tribal inheritance in Israel. The tribe of Joseph was divided by his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Chapter 17 gives the boundaries of Manasseh beyond the Jordan and north of Ephraim. The bulk of Chapter 16 deals specifically with the area allotted to Ephraim.
Historical Perspective
As a whole Joseph’s allotment was one of the largest and is the only one to include property on both sides of the Jordan River. These people would be among those exiled by the Assyrians. Hosea prophesies at length about it. By the time of Christ the western area constituted a large part of Samaria and to the east it part of the region of Syria. Today the eastern area is Syria and Jordan while the western part includes a large part of what is called the “West Bank” or “Occupied Territory” controlled by the Palestinian Authority. Gen 48 provides insight into an intimate encounter between Jacob and the sons of Joseph, then in Gen 49 Jacob blesses each tribe and prophesies about them. Of them all, only Judah received a blessing arguably greater.
Thirteen Tribes?
Gen 35:23-26 The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant: Dan and Naphtali. The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s servant: Gad and Asher. Jacob, also known as Israel, had twelve sons. Of these, Levi was specifically forbidden an allotment of the land for itself. In terms of land, however, the 12th allotment was made by dividing Joseph’s tribe into Ephraim and Manasseh. This way the priests (Levites) were priests for all of the other 12 tribes (counting Joseph as two: Ephraim and Manasseh). Generally the two sub-tribes of Joseph are only considered one when Levi is specifically being counted as a tribe, thus maintaining the symbolic importance of the number 12.
Old & New
Rev 21:12, 14 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— … And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. It isn’t likely a coincidence Jesus was the teacher for 12 disciples. When one of those disciples fell a new one was appointed by Jesus (Acts 9). Much the same way Joseph was divided and a portion was on each side of the Jordan (and remember, the younger brother, Ephraim, was blessed above Manasseh in Gen 48), Judas was on one side of the resurrection and Paul was on the other, Paul being made the greater as an Apostle.
The Good News of Joshua 16
Joshua 16:4 The people of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, received their inheritance. Joseph was a child of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He had a rightful claim to an equal portion of what God promised to Jacob. God, however, gave Joseph a double portion. YHWH made a promise and in this verse we witness the fact God fulfilled that promise and doubled it. Ephraim, the most blessed son of Joseph got the prime inheritance, nearest the seat of power (Judah and Benjamin). When I look at this passage I see God promises much and delivers more. He keeps His word. He draws those he loves, those who abide with Him and love and obey Him, closer to His heart. Levi was a tribe that was without specific property, but abided in each of the other tribe’s territories even though Levi was most concentrated wherever the ark was located. The ark represented God Almighty. I see Levi as representing the Holy Spirit, moving about wherever directed by God the Father and also residing with the other tribes. Those other tribes are the sons of Israel. The sons of Joseph are like the adopted sons of Israel, grafted in much as gentiles were grafted in alongside Jewish believers, becoming as adopted sons of Abraham and given a portion of Abraham’s inheritance in the glory of eternity. And so you see, any who come into the family are accepted by God and given a place in the eternal home of God where He Himself lives among his people. In our ultimate inheritance there will be no weeping. The people conquered by ancient Israel were subjugated or destroyed utterly. So it will be for those who refuse to come when the master calls. Believe in Jesus, be reborn and washed in his blood for only through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus can you be redeemed and in so doing share in the victory receive your inheritance – the defeat of death and eternal life.
