Joshua 16:4, "The children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance," simply means that the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim (who were descended from Joseph, son of Jacob/Israel) received the land allocated to them within the Promised Land.
Here's a more detailed breakdown of what that statement signifies:
Children of Joseph: This identifies Manasseh and Ephraim as the descendants of Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel). Joseph had received a double portion of inheritance because he had been favored by his father. This double portion was given to his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, who were thus elevated to the status of tribes within Israel.
Manasseh and Ephraim: These are the names of the two tribes inheriting land.
Took their Inheritance: This is the core meaning of the verse. It signifies that:
Inheritance was Allocated: God had promised the land of Canaan to the Israelites. Through Joshua, God was fulfilling that promise. Land was being divided among the tribes.
Possession was Taken: They actively claimed and began to occupy the specific territories designated for them. This likely involved some conflict, displacement of existing inhabitants, and settlement.
Fulfillment of Promise: The verse represents a step in the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and his descendants. The Israelites were establishing themselves in the land God had ordained for them.
In context:
Joshua chapters 13-21 deal with the division of the land of Canaan among the Israelite tribes. Chapter 16 specifically deals with the land allocated to the tribes of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh). So, this verse is a concise statement confirming that those tribes successfully received and began to occupy their designated territories.
Essentially, it's a historical marker stating that the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim successfully acquired their allotted land within the Promised Land.
Joshua 16:4, "The children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance," simply means that the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim (who were descended from Joseph, son of Jacob/Israel) received the land allocated to them within the Promised Land.
Here's a more detailed breakdown of what that statement signifies:
Children of Joseph: This identifies Manasseh and Ephraim as the descendants of Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel). Joseph had received a double portion of inheritance because he had been favored by his father. This double portion was given to his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, who were thus elevated to the status of tribes within Israel.
Manasseh and Ephraim: These are the names of the two tribes inheriting land.
Took their Inheritance: This is the core meaning of the verse. It signifies that:
Inheritance was Allocated: God had promised the land of Canaan to the Israelites. Through Joshua, God was fulfilling that promise. Land was being divided among the tribes.
Possession was Taken: They actively claimed and began to occupy the specific territories designated for them. This likely involved some conflict, displacement of existing inhabitants, and settlement.
Fulfillment of Promise: The verse represents a step in the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and his descendants. The Israelites were establishing themselves in the land God had ordained for them.
In context:
Joshua chapters 13-21 deal with the division of the land of Canaan among the Israelite tribes. Chapter 16 specifically deals with the land allocated to the tribes of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh). So, this verse is a concise statement confirming that those tribes successfully received and began to occupy their designated territories.
Essentially, it's a historical marker stating that the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim successfully acquired their allotted land within the Promised Land.