This verse portrays how God honors His promises, carefully dividing the land so that each tribe receives its proper place.
Southward it was Ephraim’s and northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea was their border; and they reached to Asher on the north and to Issachar on the east. (v.10)
Here, Joshua details the boundaries of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, two of the sub-tribes descended from Joseph. Historically, Joseph’s sons were Manasseh (the elder, born c. 1890 BC) and Ephraim (the younger), who were each granted a significant inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel (Genesis 48:5). Although Joseph himself lived centuries earlier in Egypt, the land allotment now occurs under Joshua’s leadership around 1400 BC, after the Israelites had taken possession of Canaan. The verse notes that Ephraim’s territory lay to the south, while Manasseh’s extended northward, with the Mediterranean Sea (referred to simply as “the sea”) serving as their western boundary. The mention of Asher in the north describes a tribal region along the coastline, while Issachar to the east suggests the inner highlands that border Manasseh’s territory.
Geographically, this territory includes rolling hills, fertile lands, and strategic access to the sea. The reference to the boundary “southward” and “northward” highlights the careful way Joshua and the elders divided the Promised Land to honor God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 17:8). Possessing land often symbolized God’s faithfulness: just as He had led them through the wilderness, He now established them with physical borders. Although these tribal designations may seem strictly historical, they also point to a faithful God who provides. In the New Testament, we see God’s even greater provision through Jesus Christ, who offers a spiritual inheritance to those who believe (Ephesians 1:11).
Ephraim and Manasseh’s border arrangement in Joshua 17:10 illustrates God’s commitment to keep His covenant and to organize the vast Promised Land among the Israelites in a way that would prosper them, unify them, and allow them to shine as His chosen people.
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Joshua 17:10 meaning
Southward it was Ephraim’s and northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea was their border; and they reached to Asher on the north and to Issachar on the east. (v.10)
Here, Joshua details the boundaries of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, two of the sub-tribes descended from Joseph. Historically, Joseph’s sons were Manasseh (the elder, born c. 1890 BC) and Ephraim (the younger), who were each granted a significant inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel (Genesis 48:5). Although Joseph himself lived centuries earlier in Egypt, the land allotment now occurs under Joshua’s leadership around 1400 BC, after the Israelites had taken possession of Canaan. The verse notes that Ephraim’s territory lay to the south, while Manasseh’s extended northward, with the Mediterranean Sea (referred to simply as “the sea”) serving as their western boundary. The mention of Asher in the north describes a tribal region along the coastline, while Issachar to the east suggests the inner highlands that border Manasseh’s territory.
Geographically, this territory includes rolling hills, fertile lands, and strategic access to the sea. The reference to the boundary “southward” and “northward” highlights the careful way Joshua and the elders divided the Promised Land to honor God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 17:8). Possessing land often symbolized God’s faithfulness: just as He had led them through the wilderness, He now established them with physical borders. Although these tribal designations may seem strictly historical, they also point to a faithful God who provides. In the New Testament, we see God’s even greater provision through Jesus Christ, who offers a spiritual inheritance to those who believe (Ephesians 1:11).
Ephraim and Manasseh’s border arrangement in Joshua 17:10 illustrates God’s commitment to keep His covenant and to organize the vast Promised Land among the Israelites in a way that would prosper them, unify them, and allow them to shine as His chosen people.