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The lot of Ephraim and Manasseh, ver. 1 - 4.
Of Ephraim in particular, ver. 5 - 10.
1: Children of Joseph - That is, of Ephraim, and the half tribe
of Manasseh, which are here put together in one; because in these first
verses he speaks of them in common; and then of their several portions.
4: Manasseh - That is, half Manasseh. Their inheritance - Their
several portions which here follow. It is said, they took their
inheritance, which also Judah had done before them, because the
tribes of Judah and Joseph did take their inheritances before the
rest; and it was fit they should do so, for the security of the main camp,
and the body of the people which were at Gilgal, (Jos 18:5).
5: East - side - That is, the north - east side. It is no wonder, if
some of these descriptions are dark to us at this distance of time; there
having been so many alterations made in places, and so many circumstances,
being now altogether undiscoverable. But this is certain, that all the
descriptions here mentioned, were then evident to the Israelites,
because these were the foundations of all the possessions which then they
took, and peaceably possessed in succeeding ages.
6: Toward the sun - The midland sea, towards the west.
7: To Jericho - Not to the city of Jericho, which belonged to
Benjamin's lot, (Jos 18:21), but to its territory.
9: The separate cities - That is, besides those cities which were
within Ephraim's bounds, he had some other cities, to which all of all
their territories were annexed out Manasseh's portion, because his
tribe was all here, and was larger than Manasseh's.
