Joshua 16 (KJV)
Read Joshua chapter 16 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Joshua 16
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Joshua 16 Summary
Joshua 16 describes the territory allotted to the tribe of Ephraim, Joseph's younger son whom Jacob had blessed with the greater blessing. The territory included fertile central hill country.
Notably, the chapter ends with the admission that Ephraim failed to drive out the Canaanites from Gezer, allowing them to remain as forced laborers. This incomplete obedience would later become a source of spiritual compromise and idolatry.
Key Themes
Ephraim's InheritanceIncomplete ObedienceCompromise's ConsequencesGod's Blessing
Key Verses in Joshua 16
"And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute."
— Joshua 16:10
Incomplete obedience left the seeds of future compromise — what you don't fully remove will eventually influence you.
Life Application
Don't leave sin half-conquered. What you tolerate today becomes tomorrow's temptation. Complete obedience is harder upfront but prevents greater problems later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn't Ephraim drive out all the Canaanites?
Likely a combination of military difficulty and economic benefit (forced labor). But convenience over obedience always leads to spiritual compromise.
Who was Ephraim?
Joseph's younger son, whom Jacob blessed above the firstborn Manasseh (Genesis 48). Ephraim became one of Israel's most prominent and powerful tribes.
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