Ephraim and Manasseh - God's Ways and God's Word

Text Joshua 16:1-17:19 Time 15 11 20 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Zoom)
When I was a child you would often form teams for an informal game by two captains choosing. It's a strange feeling as you wait to see who will be picked next. You hoped to be called early on, of course, not last. I suppose it might have been similar for the tribes of Israel as Joshua announced who was to be allotted their land next.
We have seen the first allotment was to the tribe of Judah (Chapter 15) and now, in Chapters 16 and 17, we come to the second allotment - the one for Ephraim and Manasseh. These were the sons of Joseph and so it is the whole allotment that is described first and then which bit was for Ephraim and which bit was for Manasseh. To add to the difficulties in following what is going on

• Manasseh had half the tribe on the west side of the Jordan and the other half on the east side.
• Then in 16:9 we read that the territory for Manasseh also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites
• And then in 17:11 that Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh also had a further six towns and surrounding settlements.

It may sound strange but sometimes geography is. It can get a little complicated on the Dutch Belgian border where the Dutch municipality of Baarle-Nassau has seven exclaves in two exclaves of the Belgian municipality of Baarle-Hertog. An exclave is a portion of territory of one state completely surrounded by the territory of another.

Two things tonight

1. Understand the parameters of the tribe of Joseph as set out in Joshua

It's easier to see on a map, again. If you think of a map of Palestine with the Mediterranean on the west and the Jordan with Galilee and the Dead Sea on the east then Joseph takes up a large section from the Mediterranean to the Jordan a few miles above the Dead Sea. Immediately to its south are Dan and Benjamin, long narrow areas north of Judah. To the north are Asher, Zebulun and Issachar. West Manasseh covers most of the Joseph territory but Ephraim forms a section in the far south that goes from the Mediterranean to the Jordan. East Manasseh is the largest and most northerly territory east of the Jordan.

Joseph's territory is described here in 16:1-4 as, starting in the east and describing the southern boundary The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan, east of the springs of Jericho (in Benjamin) and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel. It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz), crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth, descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, ending at the Mediterranean Sea.

So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.

Then from that large territory we are told (5-7) This was the territory of Ephraim, according to its clans: The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar in the east to Upper Beth Horon and continued to the Mediterranean Sea. That's the northern boundary.

From Mikmethath on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah on the east. Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan.

Verse 8 From Tappuah the border went west to the Kanah Ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. The southern boundary - This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, according to its clans. 9 It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites.

You then have this sad note, similar to the one at the end, of Chapter 15, 16:10 They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labour.

In 17:1, 2 we read about East Manasseh This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph's firstborn, that is, for Makir, Manasseh's firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead and Bashan because the Makirites were great soldiers. So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh - the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans. Then in 17:5, 6 it is added that Manasseh's share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan, because the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.

In 17:7-11 we're back to West Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher north of them to Mikmethath east of Shechem. The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah. (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.) Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine. There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, as mentioned but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the Mediterranean Sea and bordered Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.

And then just one more further complication 11 Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan, Ibleam and the people of Dor, Endor, Taanach and Megiddo, together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth).

And then again that low note (12, 13) Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.

2. Learn lessons from the allotment of land to the tribe of Joseph in the time of Joshua

That is the territory but what can we learn from this? What is there to teach or to rebuke or correct or train us? We can learn a number of lessons here. Let's name four

1. Do not forget that our ways are not God's ways

The first thing is something very subtle that could easily be missed. In 16:1-4 we read

The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan, east of the springs of Jericho and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel. It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz), crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth, descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, ending at the Mediterranean Sea. So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.

We recall that Joseph was singled out as the elder brother (even though he was not literally) and so he was given a double portion. In verse 4 he refers to Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph putting the oldest first, Manasseh then Ephraim. But you remember, perhaps, what happened when down in Egypt Joseph took his two sons born there to his father Jacob for him to bless them before he died and how blind Jacob deliberately crossed his hands so that his right hand fell on the one to his left, the younger one, and his left hand on the one to his right, the older one. Joseph was rather annoyed about it and tried to change it but his father insisted and so Ephraim was put before Manasseh just as Jacob himself had been put before his older brother Esau. And so although he begins So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance when he comes to describing the allotment he begins with the allotment to Ephraim and only after comes to the allotment for Manasseh. The writer makes no fuss but he simply reminds us of how it was.

He has already dealt first with Judah even though Reuben, Simeon and Levi were all born before Judah. He was not the oldest - not the best either.

This is often God's unexpected way. He delights to turn things around and defy human expectation. And so in the New Testament Paul says to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

Or James 2:5

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

2. Remember the importance of pleading God's Word

In 17:3, 4 we read Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives." So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the LORD's command.

This takes us back to Numbers 27 (and 36) when this promise was made. Now as with the significant role that Acsah played in the previous chapters we could take the opportunity to say that although the Bible is certainly patriarchal, it has a high view of women and so, for example, they too have inheritance rights - not just men.

The more important point here, however, is the way these women plead their case. "The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives." they say and so it must be done. They are sure Eleazar and Joshua will therefore be eager to comply.

Commenting on Numbers Calvin says

Although (the daughters of Zelophehad) plead before Moses for their own private advantage, still the discussion arose from a good principle; inasmuch as they would not have been so anxious about the succession, if God’s promise had not been just as much a matter of certainty to them as if they were at this moment demanding to be put in possession of it. They had not yet entered the land, nor were their enemies conquered; yet, relying on the testimony of Moses, they prosecute their suit as if the tranquil possession of their rights were to be accorded them that very day.

Here again in Joshua 17 it is the same approach. They know the land has been promised and so they are eager to see that the promise is fulfilled. We made this point with regard to Caleb the other week.

You may remember we said that we can think of the whole Bible as a book full of promises, cast-iron guarantees given by God. All we have to do is to believe them and act on them.

Spurgeon used to talk of the Bible and its promises it as “the cheque book of the bank of faith” – all ready signed, we simply have to fill in the amount.

We used to sing a hymn in my home church ‘Standing on the promises of God’ – are you standing on the promises?

Bunyan’s slough of despond in Pilgrim's Progress had a way out - steps that stand for the promises of God. Bunyan has Help say

there are, by the direction of the Lawgiver, certain good and substantial steps placed even through the very midst of his slough; but at such time as this place doth much spew out its filth, as it doth against change of weather, these steps are hardly seen; or, if they be, men, through the dizziness of their heads, step beside; and then they are bemired to purpose, notwithstanding the steps be there: ....

Remember how also later the pilgrims find themselves in Doubting Castle when Christian suddenly remembers he has a key in his pocket called promise. Bunyan describes how they were threatened and cowered by Giant Despair and how he and his wife Mrs Diffidence discussed searching them the next day.

Well on Saturday about midnight they began to pray, and continued in Prayer till almost break of day. Now a little before it was day, good Christian, as one half amazed, brake out in passionate speech: What a fool, quoth he, am I, thus to lie in a stinking Dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty. I have a Key in my bosom called Promise, that will, I am persuaded, open any Lock in Doubting Castle. Then said Hopeful, That's good news; good Brother pluck it out of thy bosom and try.

Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom, and began to try at the Dungeon door, whose bolt (as he turned the Key) gave back, and the door flew open with ease, and Christian and Hopeful both came out. Then he went to the outward door that leads into the Castle-yard, and with his Key opened that door also. After he went to the iron Gate, for that must be opened too, but that Lock went damnable hard, yet the Key did open it. Then they thrust open the Gate to make their escape with speed; but that Gate as it opened made such a creaking, that it waked Giant Despair, who hastily rising to pursue his Prisoners, felt his limbs to fail, for his Fits took him again, so that he could by no means go after them. Then they went on, and came to the King's High-way again, and so were safe, because they were out of his jurisdiction.

Get to know the promises in God's Word and believe them. Every promise God makes will hold good. They are all ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen’ in Christ. God’s Word cannot fail. One writer has written ‘You cannot starve a man who’s feeding on the promises of God.’ Look at Zelophehad's daughters here and believe it.

3. Do not fail to be merciless with your enemy the flesh but follow God wholeheartedly

Let's think now about these notes sounded about Israel's failure.

15:63 Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.

16:10 They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labour.

17:12, 13 Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.

The Israelites were supposed to carry out God's judgement on the wicked Canaanites and completely destroy them. However, they were increasingly failing to do that.

First, we read about the failure of Judah with regard to Jerusalem. Then with regard to Ephraim they not only fail to take Gezer but settle for a compromise and merely subject the Canaanites to forced labour. Thirdly, the Manassites do the same thing with a number of towns where the Canaanites were determined to live.

Now the challenge for us is how we are doing with our enemies and especially our own flesh or sinful nature. Are there still sins that we have failed to put to death? Old habits that seem like they are never going to die? Or are we compromised? We intend never to kill some of those sins - our laziness, our lack of self control, our self-centredness. "That's just how I am" we say.

John Owen reminds us in his book on mortification (putting to death) of sin

The choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin. ...

The mortification of indwelling sin remaining in our mortal bodies, that it may not have life and power to bring forth the works or deeds of the flesh is the constant duty of believers. ...

Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you. ...

Not to be daily mortifying sin, is to sin against the goodness, kindness, wisdom, grace, and love of God, who hath furnished us with a principle of doing it.

4. Recognise the fearful danger of being discontented with God's ways

17:14-18 The people of Joseph said to Joshua, "Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the LORD has blessed us abundantly."

This is their first complaint then. The problem is not their failure to put the Canaanites to death but the fact that Joshua has not provided them with enough land. This is quite ridiculous. Ephraim and Manasseh easily have more land than any other tribe, even Judah.

Joshua replies (15) "If you are so numerous ... and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites." There's plenty of land you just need to show some enterprise and put in the work.

But they come back (16) "The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel." This shows their real problem. They are simply pessimists who can always find a problem. The hill country is not enough and the Canaanites are in the plains with their iron chariots. This is hopeless and totally unfair.

Joshua is firm, however, (17, 18) But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph - to Ephraim and Manasseh - "You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out."

So Joshua is sympathetic but he encourages them to see that they need to be more confident in the Lord. He takes us back to a passage like Deuteronomy 7:17-22

You may say to yourselves, "These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?" But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear. Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet among them until even the survivors who hide from you have perished. Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God. The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.

The sons of Joseph had started to doubt God and that is never a good position to be in. Is that our problem? Is our basic spiritual problem a lack of faith? That should never be.