Joshua 17 9

Joshua 17:9 kjv

And the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river: these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea:

Joshua 17:9 nkjv

And the border descended to the Brook Kanah, southward to the brook. These cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh. The border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook; and it ended at the sea.

Joshua 17:9 niv

Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine. There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea.

Joshua 17:9 esv

Then the boundary went down to the brook Kanah. These cities, to the south of the brook, among the cities of Manasseh, belong to Ephraim. Then the boundary of Manasseh goes on the north side of the brook and ends at the sea,

Joshua 17:9 nlt

From the spring of Tappuah, the boundary of Manasseh followed the Kanah Ravine to the Mediterranean Sea. Several towns south of the ravine were inside Manasseh's territory, but they actually belonged to the tribe of Ephraim.

Joshua 17 verses

Joshua 17 9 Meaning

Joshua 17:9 describes the complex and sometimes interwoven territorial boundaries of the tribal inheritance in Canaan, specifically focusing on the southern border of the western half-tribe of Manasseh. It delineates that Manasseh’s southern border descended to the Brook of Kanah. The verse then highlights a crucial detail: while Manasseh's border lay north of this brook, some cities designated for the tribe of Ephraim were situated within Manasseh's territory. This implies an administrative arrangement or shared settlement pattern where strict geographic lines might be crossed by specific tribal holdings. The verse concludes by stating that Manasseh's western outlets, meaning its access to the sea, also bordered this brook, stretching to the Mediterranean.

Joshua 17 9 Context

Joshua 17 details the territorial allotment given to the tribe of Manasseh in western Canaan. Following the division of land to Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh on the east side of the Jordan (Joshua 13), this chapter focuses on the inheritance of the remaining tribes in western Canaan. Chapter 17 specifically delineates the intricate boundaries for the half-tribe of Manasseh (west of the Jordan) and highlights its relationship with Ephraim, both being descendants of Joseph. The earlier verses of Chapter 17 describe Manasseh's specific family lines that received land, including the special provision for the daughters of Zelophehad, setting the stage for the practical, sometimes overlapping, distribution of land. Verse 9 is crucial as it clarifies the southern boundary of Manasseh with Ephraim, specifying a natural landmark (Brook of Kanah) and, notably, identifying areas where Ephraimite cities were intermingled within Manasseh’s overall allocated region. This illustrates the fluid reality of land distribution, often dictated by prior Canaanite settlements, the process of conquest, and specific clan allocations, rather than just straight lines on a map.

Joshua 17 9 Word analysis

• And the border: The Hebrew word for "border" is גְּבוּל (gᵉbūl), signifying a fixed line or boundary of a territory. Its repeated use throughout Joshua emphasizes the detailed nature of the land allocation and God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promise.
• descended: The verb is יָרַד (yarad), meaning "to go down, descend." This implies a topographical feature, a slope or gradual decline in the terrain as the boundary follows the natural landscape towards the wadi (brook).
• unto the brook of Kanah: The phrase refers to נַחַל קָנָה (Nachal Qanah). A "nachal" (נַחַל) is typically a wadi or seasonal watercourse, often with a valley. "Qanah" (קָנָה) means "reed" or "cane," suggesting the presence of such plants along its banks. This natural landmark served as a clear, identifiable demarcation point, crucial for establishing territorial limits in ancient times.
• southward of the brook: This explicitly states that the region being described lies on the south side of the Kanah brook, making it the northernmost point of this segment of Manasseh's boundary with Ephraim.
• these cities of Ephraim: This phrase (עָרֵי אֶפְרַיִם, arey Ephrayim) denotes specific urban centers. The remarkable point is that they belonged to Ephraim but were situated geographically within Manasseh's overall territory. This suggests a unique administrative or demographic reality where certain clan groups or historical settlements remained under Ephraimite jurisdiction despite being encircled or largely surrounded by Manasseh's allocated lands.
• are among the cities of Manasseh: The preposition "among" (בְּתוֹךְ, bᵉtôkh) conveys the idea of being "in the midst of" or "inside" Manasseh's broader land allocation. This highlights an exception to a perfectly continuous territory, indicating an administrative or clan-based allocation superseding rigid geographical contiguity, or reflecting a post-conquest intermingling that remained.
• the border of Manasseh also was on the north side of the brook: This clarifies that even though some Ephraimite cities were to the south (among Manasseh), Manasseh's actual border proper continued to run along the north side of the Brook of Kanah, confirming the brook as its southern territorial limit with Ephraim beyond the enclave cities. This distinguishes the broader border line from specific city jurisdictions.
• and its outlets were at the sea: The Hebrew word is תּוֹצְאוֹת (tôtse’ôt), meaning "outlets," "exits," or "terminations." It describes the final westward extent of the territory. "The sea" refers to the Mediterranean Sea. This signifies that Manasseh’s allotted land stretched across the entire width of the land, from its eastern starting point down to the western coast, granting it valuable access for trade and strategic defense.

Joshua 17 9 Bonus section

• The detail of "cities of Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh" could reflect an initial tribal claim based on population pressure and strategic importance that was later maintained even as broader tribal boundaries were drawn. This dynamic foreshadows later instances of tribal tensions or fluid allegiances within Israel.
• The emphasis on "gĕbûl" (boundary) in Joshua highlights the theological importance of defined territory as part of the covenant promise. This sacred land, divided by divine guidance through lot, underscored the permanency of God’s gift, even when practical realities created pockets of shared occupancy.
• The "Brook of Kanah" is usually identified with the modern Wadi Qanah, located between ancient Shechem and the coastal plain, confirming the biblical narrative's geographical accuracy. This physical marker served as a critical line in the landscape, preventing disputes between the powerful Josephite tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh, concerning their shared inheritance.

Joshua 17 9 Commentary

Joshua 17:9, despite its seemingly dry geographical details, reveals significant insights into the nature of the Israelite conquest and land distribution. The delineation of the "Brook of Kanah" as a distinct boundary point for Manasseh’s southern border is typical of the precise geographical descriptions found throughout the book, demonstrating God's faithful and detailed fulfillment of His covenant promise to Abraham. However, the unexpected mention of "these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh" speaks to the pragmatic and sometimes complex realities of settling the Promised Land. This was not a neat, strictly geometric division but one that accounted for existing Canaanite populations (whom the Israelites often failed to fully dispossess), and the distribution patterns of Israelite clans.

Scholarly understanding often suggests several reasons for this intermingling: it could be remnants of specific Ephraimite clan settlements already established prior to a unified border delineation, or perhaps the Ephraimites possessed some strategic strongholds that became enclaves. This "shared" aspect is seen elsewhere, notably in Judah and Dan’s portions, and highlights that land inheritance was not solely based on a clean partition line but often incorporated the practicalities of a gradual and challenging conquest. Furthermore, the mention of "outlets... at the sea" signifies the economic and strategic value of maritime access, an integral part of God's provision for the tribe’s future prosperity. Overall, this verse subtly shows that the fulfillment of God’s promise of land was not without its administrative challenges and shared living arrangements, laying the groundwork for later inter-tribal dynamics reflected in the Book of Judges.