1
וַיֵּצֵ֨א הַגּוֹרָ֜ל לִבְנֵ֤י יוֹסֵף֙ מִיַּרְדֵּ֣ן יְרִיח֔וֹ לְמֵ֥י יְרִיח֖וֹ מִזְרָ֑חָה הַמִּדְבָּ֗ר עֹלֶ֧ה מִירִיח֛וֹ בָּהָ֖ר בֵּֽית אֵֽל
The lot went out for the sons of Joseph from the Jordan at Jericho, to the waters of Jericho eastward, the wilderness going up from Jericho into the hill country to Bethel.
Opens the joint Joseph allotment with the standard border-survey wayyiqtol; the participle עֹלֶה shifts momentarily into a static, map-like present as the line ascends into the hills.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
וַיֵּצֵ֨אwent outQal wayyiqtol 3ms · יָצָא (H3318)Predicate verb (main clause), wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the boundary-line's opening movementיָצָא (H3318) 'to go out'; the chapter's programmatic border-verb, tracing the line as if it moves. Source id 06zLW.
הַגּוֹרָ֜לthe lotart + N m sg abs · גּוֹרָל (H1486)Subject of וַיֵּצֵאגּוֹרָל (H1486) 'lot, allotment'; the sacred-lot mechanism (cf. Josh 14:2) by which tribal territory was assigned. Source id 06tDQ.
לִבְנֵ֤יfor the sons ofprep לְ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Prepositional phrase (possession/beneficiary)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct chain בְּנֵי יוֹסֵף 'sons of Joseph' — the joint clan designation before the Ephraim/Manasseh split. Source id 06oNh.
יוֹסֵף֙Josephproper noun · יוֹסֵף (H3130)Genitive (construct chain, completing לִבְנֵי)יוֹסֵף (H3130); here the tribal ancestor whose two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, receive a combined allotment before it is divided (v. 4). Source id 06S1Y.
מִיַּרְדֵּ֣ןfrom the Jordanprep מִן + proper noun · יַרְדֵּן (H3383)Prepositional phrase (spatial, source point of border)יַרְדֵּן (H3383) 'Jordan'; the eastern anchor of the border, opposite Jericho. Source id 06DG9.
יְרִיח֔וֹof Jerichoproper noun · יְרִיחוֹ (H3405)Apposition/genitive, specifying the Jordan crossing pointיְרִיחוֹ (H3405) 'Jericho'; the oasis city marking the border's starting landmark. Source id 06BDe.
לְמֵ֥יto the waters ofprep לְ + N m pl constr · מַיִם (H4325)Prepositional phrase, parallel to מִיַּרְדֵּןמַיִם (H4325) 'water(s)'; construct with יְרִיחוֹ, 'the waters of Jericho' — the spring (cf. 2 Kgs 2:19-22, Elisha's healed spring). Source id 06D2q.
יְרִיח֖וֹJerichoproper noun · יְרִיחוֹ (H3405)Genitive, completing לְמֵייְרִיחוֹ (H3405); repeated for precision — the waters belonging to Jericho, not the city itself. Source id 06qAx.
מִזְרָ֑חָהeastwardN m sg abs + directional ה · מִזְרָח (H4217)Adverbial accusative of directionמִזְרָח (H4217) 'east, sunrise'; the directional ה suffix marks motion toward, 'eastward' — orienting the border's next leg. Source id 06axC.
הַמִּדְבָּ֗רthe wildernessart + N m sg abs · מִדְבָּר (H4057)Subject of עֹלֶה (nominative absolute resuming the line)מִדְבָּר (H4057) 'wilderness, wasteland'; the arid ascent country between Jericho and the central hill country. Source id 06o6W.
עֹלֶ֧הgoing upQal ptc m sg abs · עָלָה (H5927)Predicate participle (durative border description)→ Participle: the border pictured as continuously ascending — a static-survey presentעָלָה (H5927) 'to go up, ascend'; the participle shifts from narrated wayyiqtol to a descriptive, cartographic present. Source id 06x5r.
מִירִיח֛וֹfrom Jerichoprep מִן + proper noun · יְרִיחוֹ (H3405)Prepositional phrase (spatial, source)יְרִיחוֹ (H3405); the ascent's starting point, restated for clarity. Source id 068x6.
בָּהָ֖רinto the hill countryprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · הַר (H2022)Prepositional phrase (spatial goal)הַר (H2022) 'hill, mountain'; here the central hill country / highlands of Ephraim, the ascent's destination. Source id 06LnD.
בֵּֽיתBeth-proper noun (construct element) · בֵּית אֵל (H1008)Apposition, specifying the hill-country goalבֵּית (H1008a) 'house of', first element of the compound toponym בֵּית־אֵל 'Bethel'; written as two words here per WLC convention. Source id 06iU5.
אֵֽל-el (Bethel)proper noun (construct element) · בֵּית אֵל (H1008)Second element of the toponym, completing בֵּיתאֵל (H1008b) 'El/God', second element of בֵּית־אֵל 'house of God'; the patriarchal sanctuary site (Gen 28:19, where Jacob renamed Luz). Source id 06HeA.
2
וְיָצָ֥א מִבֵּֽית אֵ֖ל ל֑וּזָה וְעָבַ֛ר אֶל גְּב֥וּל הָאַרְכִּ֖י עֲטָרֽוֹת
and it goes out from Bethel to Luz, and passes to the border of the Archite, at Ataroth,
Weqatal chain (not wayyiqtol) sustains the survey's descriptive mode; the Bethel/Luz doublet recalls Genesis 28's site-naming, while 'the Archite' quietly anticipates Hushai's clan two books later.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
וְיָצָ֥אand it goes outconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · יָצָא (H3318)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing the border description→ Weqatal: continuative, sequential description — the line's next legיָצָא (H3318) 'to go out'; weqatal here (not wayyiqtol) sustains the descriptive present of the border-survey register. Source id 06FnB.
מִבֵּֽיתfrom Beth-prep מִן + proper noun (construct element) · בֵּית אֵל (H1008)Prepositional phrase (spatial, source)בֵּית (H1008a), first element of בֵּית־אֵל; 'from Bethel', repeating v. 1's terminus as this verse's starting point — the border-verse chain links leg to leg. Source id 06fF5.
אֵ֖ל-el (Bethel)proper noun (construct element) · בֵּית אֵל (H1008)Second element of the toponymאֵל (H1008b), completing בֵּית־אֵל 'Bethel'. Source id 06hRX.
ל֑וּזָהto Luzproper noun + directional ה · לוּז (H3870)Prepositional goal (directional ה, 'to Luz')לוּז (H3870) 'Luz'; the earlier Canaanite name of the site later called Bethel (Gen 28:19; 35:6) — the double-naming preserved here as two stops on the same line, an old-name/new-name doublet typical of border lists. Source id 06Rdj.
וְעָבַ֛רand it passesconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · עָבַר (H5674)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing the sequence→ Weqatal: continuative — the border 'crosses over' to the next landmarkעָבַר (H5674) 'to pass over, cross'; the second of the border-survey's stock verbs, marking transition between segments. Source id 06FNm.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional head governing גְּבוּלאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; directional preposition. Source id 06HZS.
גְּב֥וּלthe border ofN m sg constr · גְּבוּל (H1366)Object of preposition, construct governing הָאַרְכִּיגְּבוּל (H1366) 'border, territory'; the chapter's key organizing term, recurring throughout the survey. Source id 06UKW.
הָאַרְכִּ֖יthe Architeart + gentilic N m sg abs · אַרְכִּי (H757)Genitive, completing the construct גְּבוּלאַרְכִּי (H757) 'Archite', gentilic of the עֲטָרוֹת region; elsewhere attested only of Hushai the Archite, David's counselor (2 Sam 15:32; 16:16; 17:5,14) — a rare clan-name tying this obscure border notice to later narrative. Source id 064RJ.
עֲטָרֽוֹתAtarothproper noun · עֲטָרוֹת (H5852)Apposition, specifying the border's locationעֲטָרוֹת (H5852) 'crowns'; a border town, distinct from עַטְרוֹת אַדָּר of v. 5 though evidently in the same district — border lists often name near-homonymous sites. Source id 06EPF.
3
וְיָֽרַד יָ֜מָּה אֶל גְּב֣וּל הַיַּפְלֵטִ֗י עַ֣ד גְּב֧וּל בֵּית חוֹרֹ֛ן תַּחְתּ֖וֹן וְעַד גָּ֑זֶר וְהָי֥וּ תצאתו תֹצְאֹתָ֖יו יָֽמָּה
and it goes down westward to the border of the Japhletite, as far as the border of lower Beth-horon and to Gezer, and its ends are at the sea.
Continues the weqatal chain to the border's western terminus; the chapter preserves an in-text Ketiv/Qere pair for 'its outgoings' (תצאתו / תֹצְאֹתָיו), a rare case where both the written and read forms appear as separate words rather than being resolved solely by a marginal apparatus.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
וְיָֽרַדand it goes downconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · יָרַד (H3381)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing sequence→ Weqatal: continuative — the border descends to the coastal plainיָרַד (H3381) 'to go down, descend'; third of the border-survey verbs, marking the drop from highlands toward the sea. Source id 06BNN.
יָ֜מָּהseaward/westwardN m sg abs + directional ה · יָם (H3220)Adverbial accusative of directionיָם (H3220) 'sea'; directional ה, 'toward the sea', i.e. westward — the Mediterranean is the western reference point throughout the chapter. Source id 06osb.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional headאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'. Source id 06xWk.
גְּב֣וּלthe border ofN m sg constr · גְּבוּל (H1366)Object of preposition, constructגְּבוּל (H1366) 'border'. Source id 06Kkd.
הַיַּפְלֵטִ֗יthe Japhletiteart + gentilic N m sg abs · יַפְלֵטִי (H3311)Genitive, completing constructיַפְלֵטִי (H3311) 'Japhletite', gentilic from a clan/eponym otherwise unattested outside this verse; likely a minor Canaanite or mixed group surviving on the border. Source id 06M8D.
עַ֣דuntoprep · עַד (H5704)Prepositional head governing the next construct chainעַד (H5704) 'as far as, until'; spatial extent. Source id 063w9.
גְּב֧וּלthe border ofN m sg constr · גְּבוּל (H1366)Object of preposition, construct governing בֵּית חוֹרֹןגְּבוּל (H1366) 'border'. Source id 06TQy.
בֵּיתBeth-proper noun (construct element) · בֵּית חוֹרֹן (H1032)First element of toponymבֵּית (H1032a) 'house of', first element of בֵּית־חוֹרֹן 'Beth-horon', a strategic pass town. Source id 06cG9.
חוֹרֹ֛ן-horonproper noun (construct element) · בֵּית חוֹרֹן (H1032)Second element of toponymחוֹרֹן (H1032b), second element of בֵּית־חוֹרֹן, perhaps honoring the Canaanite deity Horon; the pass connected the coastal plain to the hill country and figures repeatedly in later military history (1 Sam 13:18; 1 Macc 3:16). Source id 06nVF.
תַּחְתּ֖וֹןloweradj m sg abs · תַּחְתּוֹן (H8481)Attributive adjective, modifying בֵּית חוֹרֹןתַּחְתּוֹן (H8481) 'lower'; distinguishes Lower Beth-horon (in the Aijalon valley) from Upper Beth-horon named in v. 5 — the twin towns command the ascent/descent of the pass. Source id 066xK.
וְעַדand untoconj וְ + prep · עַד (H5704)Coordinating conjunction + prepositional headעַד (H5704) 'as far as'; conjoined with the previous עַד clause. Source id 06MQy.
גָּ֑זֶרGezerproper noun · גֶּזֶר (H1507)Object of prepositionגֶּזֶר (H1507) 'Gezer'; a major Canaanite royal city on the Shephelah's edge, whose incomplete conquest becomes the chapter's closing confession (v. 10) — Solomon later receives it as an Egyptian dowry-gift and rebuilds it, 1 Kgs 9:16-17. Source id 06Cnn.
וְהָי֥וּand areconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3cp · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb, weqatal (existential/copular)→ Weqatal: stating the resultant terminus — 'and its outgoings are...'הָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; here copular, introducing the border's terminal-point formula common across the allotment chapters. Source id 06rZz.
תצאתוits outgoings [Ketiv]N f pl constr + 3ms suffix (Ketiv, defective spelling) · תוֹצָאָה (H8444)Subject of וְהָיוּ (Ketiv reading)תוֹצָאָה (H8444) 'outgoing(s), extremity'; the Ketiv here is written defectively (תצאתו, lacking the וֹ of the expected form) — the scribal consonantal text preserved as written, corrected by the Qere immediately following. Source id 06LLu.
תֹצְאֹתָ֖יוits outgoings [Qere]N f pl constr + 3ms suffix (Qere, full spelling) · תוֹצָאָה (H8444)Subject of וְהָיוּ (Qere reading, read aloud)תוֹצָאָה (H8444) 'outgoing(s), boundary-terminus'; the Masoretic Qere supplies the fuller, expected spelling to be read in place of the Ketiv תצאתו — a routine Ketiv/Qere pair, not a substantive variant. Source id 06frk.
יָֽמָּהat the seaN m sg abs + directional ה · יָם (H3220)Predicate complement (locative), 'at/to the sea'יָם (H3220) 'sea'; directional ה marking the border's final terminus at the Mediterranean. Source id 06e6d.
4
וַיִּנְחֲל֥וּ בְנֵי יוֹסֵ֖ף מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה וְאֶפְרָֽיִם
And the sons of Joseph — Manasseh and Ephraim — took their inheritance.
A summarizing wayyiqtol closes the joint Joseph unit (vv. 1-3) and formally introduces the two-tribe division; the chapter boundary between 16 and 17 cuts across this single literary unit, since Manasseh's detailed allotment is deferred to ch. 17.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
וַיִּנְחֲל֥וּand they took as inheritanceconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · נָחַל (H5157)Predicate verb (main clause), wayyiqtol resuming narrative→ Wayyiqtol: narrative resumption — the summarizing act after the border-survey detailנָחַל (H5157) 'to take possession of, inherit'; shifts from the descriptive border-formula back to narrated action, closing the joint-Joseph unit before it splits into separate Ephraim/Manasseh surveys. Source id 06qrz.
בְנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of וַיִּנְחֲלוּבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct chain בְּנֵי יוֹסֵף, resuming v. 1's designation. Source id 06yUB.
יוֹסֵ֖ףJosephproper noun · יוֹסֵף (H3130)Genitive, completing constructיוֹסֵף (H3130); the collective ancestor named in apposition to the two named sons that follow. Source id 06Qko.
מְנַשֶּׁ֥הManassehproper noun · מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519)Apposition, specifying בְּנֵי יוֹסֵףמְנַשֶּׁה (H4519); Joseph's elder son, whose allotment straddles both sides of the Jordan (chs. 13, 17) — named first here though Ephraim receives the fuller survey in this chapter. Source id 06Kxd.
וְאֶפְרָֽיִםand Ephraimconj וְ + proper noun · אֶפְרַיִם (H669)Apposition, second name in the pairאֶפְרַיִם (H669); Joseph's younger son (Gen 41:52; 48:14-20, the crossed-hands blessing) whose territory the rest of this chapter details — note the chapter division falls mid-unit, with Manasseh's own survey continuing in ch. 17. Source id 066Gp.
5
וַיְהִ֛י גְּב֥וּל בְּנֵֽי אֶפְרַ֖יִם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם וַיְהִ֞י גְּב֤וּל נַחֲלָתָם֙ מִזְרָ֔חָה עַטְר֣וֹת אַדָּ֔ר עַד בֵּ֥ית חוֹרֹ֖ן עֶלְיֽוֹן
And the border of the sons of Ephraim by their clans was: the border of their inheritance eastward was Ataroth-addar, as far as upper Beth-horon.
The formal 'and-the-border-of X by their clans' heading marks the shift from the joint Joseph narrative to Ephraim's own legal border-record; the doubled וַיְהִי frames heading and first border leg.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
וַיְהִ֛יand wasconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (main clause), introducing the formal border-list→ Wayyiqtol: narrative-formulaic opening of Ephraim's own border descriptionהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; opens the tribe-specific survey formula, echoed at the second וַיְהִי in this verse. Source id 06pHy.
גְּב֥וּלthe border ofN m sg constr · גְּבוּל (H1366)Subject/predicate nominative, construct governing בְּנֵי אֶפְרַיִםגְּבוּל (H1366) 'border, territory'. Source id 069px.
בְּנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct, completing גְּבוּלבֵּן (H1121) 'son'. Source id 06YdZ.
אֶפְרַ֖יִםEphraimproper noun · אֶפְרַיִם (H669)Genitive, completing construct chainאֶפְרַיִם (H669); the tribe whose own detailed survey now begins, distinct from the shared Joseph border of vv. 1-3. Source id 06GfP.
לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑םby their clansprep לְ + N f pl constr + 3mp suffix · מִשְׁפָּחָה (H4940)Prepositional phrase (distributive/manner)מִשְׁפָּחָה (H4940) 'clan, family'; standard tribal-allotment formula, marking the survey as clan-by-clan legal record. Source id 068ms.
וַיְהִ֞יand wasconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb, resuming the border formula→ Wayyiqtol: restates the formula to introduce the specific border lineהָיָה (H1961); repeated for the specific eastern border description that follows. Source id 064aE.
גְּב֤וּלthe border ofN m sg constr · גְּבוּל (H1366)Subject/predicate nominative, constructגְּבוּל (H1366) 'border'. Source id 06c85.
נַחֲלָתָם֙their inheritanceN f sg constr + 3mp suffix · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Genitive, completing constructנַחֲלָה (H5159) 'inheritance, possession'; the allotted land as permanent tribal property. Source id 066SP.
מִזְרָ֔חָהeastwardN m sg abs + directional ה · מִזְרָח (H4217)Adverbial accusative of directionמִזְרָח (H4217) 'east'; orients the following list as the eastern leg of Ephraim's border. Source id 06njU.
עַטְר֣וֹתAtaroth-proper noun (construct element) · עַטְרוֹת אַדָּר (H5853)Predicate complement, first element of toponymעַטְרוֹת (H5853a), first element of עַטְרוֹת אַדָּר 'Ataroth-addar', distinguished from the עֲטָרוֹת of vv. 2, 7 by the added qualifier. Source id 06zbT.
אַדָּ֔ר-addarproper noun (construct element) · עַטְרוֹת אַדָּר (H5853)Second element of toponymאַדָּר (H5853b), second element of the compound name, perhaps 'majestic' or a personal name; cf. Josh 18:13 where the same site anchors Benjamin's border too — the tribal boundaries interlock here. Source id 06PX2.
עַדuntoprep · עַד (H5704)Prepositional headעַד (H5704) 'as far as'. Source id 06UJ6.
בֵּ֥יתBeth-proper noun (construct element) · בֵּית חוֹרֹן (H1032)First element of toponym, object of prepositionבֵּית (H1032a), first element of בֵּית־חוֹרֹן. Source id 064rn.
חוֹרֹ֖ן-horonproper noun (construct element) · בֵּית חוֹרֹן (H1032)Second element of toponymחוֹרֹן (H1032b), completing בֵּית־חוֹרֹן. Source id 06mdG.
עֶלְיֽוֹןupperadj m sg abs · עֶלְיוֹן (H5945)Attributive adjective, modifying בֵּית חוֹרֹןעֶלְיוֹן (H5945) 'upper, higher'; Upper Beth-horon complements Lower Beth-horon (v. 3) — the pass's two towns command its full ascent, a strategic corridor fought over repeatedly (Josh 10:10-11; 1 Sam 13:18). Source id 06tVz.
6
וְיָצָ֨א הַגְּב֜וּל הַיָּ֗מָּה הַֽמִּכְמְתָת֙ מִצָּפ֔וֹן וְנָסַ֧ב הַגְּב֛וּל מִזְרָ֖חָה תַּאֲנַ֣ת שִׁלֹ֑ה וְעָבַ֣ר אוֹת֔וֹ מִמִּזְרַ֖ח יָנֽוֹחָה
and the border goes out westward at Michmethath on the north, and the border turns eastward to Taanath-shiloh, and passes along it on the east to Janoah;
Introduces סָבַב 'turns' alongside the stock יָצָא/עָבַר verbs, marking a genuine directional pivot in the surveyed line rather than mere onward travel; two more obscure toponyms (Michmethath, Taanath-shiloh) anchor the Ephraim-Manasseh seam.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וְיָצָ֨אand it goes outconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · יָצָא (H3318)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing survey→ Weqatal: continuative — border's northern legיָצָא (H3318) 'to go out'; resumes the border-verb chain. Source id 06GRj.
הַגְּב֜וּלthe borderart + N m sg abs · גְּבוּל (H1366)Subject of וְיָצָאגְּבוּל (H1366) 'border'. Source id 06J6b.
הַיָּ֗מָּהwestwardart + N m sg abs + directional ה · יָם (H3220)Adverbial accusative of directionיָם (H3220) 'sea'; 'toward the sea', i.e., westward — the border's outer, northern-line orientation. Source id 06K5C.
הַֽמִּכְמְתָת֙at Michmethathart + proper noun · מִכְמְתָת (H4366)Apposition, locating the border's northern pointמִכְמְתָת (H4366) 'Michmethath'; a site near Shechem marking the Ephraim-Manasseh boundary (cf. 17:7) — unlocated with certainty but generally placed east of Shechem. Source id 06xen.
מִצָּפ֔וֹןon the northprep מִן + N f sg abs · צָפוֹן (H6828)Prepositional phrase (spatial, orientation)צָפוֹן (H6828) 'north'; Michmethath lies to Ephraim's north, on the shared line with Manasseh. Source id 06t7j.
וְנָסַ֧בand it turnsconj וְ + Niphal weqatal 3ms · סָבַב (H5437)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing sequence→ Weqatal (Niphal, reflexive/passive sense): the border 'turns itself' — a pivot in directionסָבַב (H5437) 'to turn, go around'; Niphal stem gives a middle/reflexive nuance, 'turns about' — the fourth of the chapter's border-survey verbs, marking a change of direction rather than straight travel. Source id 06nDA.
הַגְּב֛וּלthe borderart + N m sg abs · גְּבוּל (H1366)Subject of וְנָסַבגְּבוּל (H1366) 'border'. Source id 06KhP.
מִזְרָ֖חָהeastwardN m sg abs + directional ה · מִזְרָח (H4217)Adverbial accusative of directionמִזְרָח (H4217) 'east'; the border now reverses toward the Jordan side. Source id 06cj2.
תַּאֲנַ֣תTaanath-proper noun (construct element) · תַּאֲנַת שִׁלֹה (H8387)Predicate complement, first element of toponymתַּאֲנַת (H8387a), first element of the compound תַּאֲנַת־שִׁלֹה 'Taanath-shiloh', a town otherwise unattested in the Bible, tentatively located east of Shechem. Source id 06wEK.
שִׁלֹ֑ה-shilohproper noun (construct element) · תַּאֲנַת שִׁלֹה (H8387)Second element of toponymשִׁלֹה (H8387b), second element of the compound name — distinct from the sanctuary city Shiloh (H7887) despite the similar spelling; a case where surface resemblance can mislead. Source id 06h2t.
וְעָבַ֣רand it passesconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · עָבַר (H5674)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing sequence→ Weqatal: continuative — the line passes by the landmarkעָבַר (H5674) 'to pass over, cross'; recurs as the standard transition-verb of the survey. Source id 068ES.
אוֹת֔וֹ[obj] itobj marker + 3ms suffix · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker with pronominal suffix (resuming Taanath-shiloh)אֵת (H853) + 3ms suffix, 'it' — grammatically marks the border's own passing-by of the landmark just named; untranslated as a separate word in English. Source id 06Qv8.
מִמִּזְרַ֖חon the east ofprep מִן + N m sg constr · מִזְרָח (H4217)Prepositional phrase, construct governing יָנוֹחָהמִזְרָח (H4217) 'east'; here construct, 'from/on the east of'. Source id 069rU.
יָנֽוֹחָהJanoahproper noun + directional ה · יָנוֹחַ (H3239)Genitive, completing the prepositional constructיָנוֹחַ (H3239) 'Janoah' (root נוח 'to rest'); a border town east of Michmethath, otherwise unknown outside this chapter. Source id 06bak.
7
וְיָרַ֥ד מִיָּנ֖וֹחָה עֲטָר֣וֹת וְנַעֲרָ֑תָה וּפָגַע֙ בִּֽירִיח֔וֹ וְיָצָ֖א הַיַּרְדֵּֽן
and it goes down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, and touches at Jericho, and goes out at the Jordan.
The eastern circuit closes by returning to the Jordan/Jericho landmarks of v. 1, framing vv. 1-7 as a single border-loop before v. 8 turns to the western leg.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
וְיָרַ֥דand it goes downconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · יָרַד (H3381)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing sequence→ Weqatal: continuative — the border descends back toward the Jordan valleyיָרַד (H3381) 'to go down'; the descent-verb reappears, marking the drop from the Janoah highlands toward Jericho. Source id 069uw.
מִיָּנ֖וֹחָהfrom Janoahprep מִן + proper noun + directional ה · יָנוֹחַ (H3239)Prepositional phrase (spatial, source)יָנוֹחַ (H3239); the border's starting point for this leg, resuming v. 6's terminus. Source id 06M4p.
עֲטָר֣וֹתto Atarothproper noun · עֲטָרוֹת (H5852)Object/goal of the verb (asyndetic accusative of place)עֲטָרוֹת (H5852) 'crowns'; likely the same Ataroth of v. 2 rather than v. 5's Ataroth-addar, though border lists sometimes reuse abbreviated forms loosely. Source id 068MU.
וְנַעֲרָ֑תָהand to Naarahconj וְ + proper noun + directional ה · נַעֲרָה (H5292)Coordinate goal, parallel to עֲטָרוֹתנַעֲרָה (H5292) 'Naarah' (or 'girl/maiden'); a town near Jericho, possibly identical with Naaran in 1 Chr 7:28. Source id 06PGb.
וּפָגַע֙and it touchesconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · פָּגַע (H6293)Predicate verb, weqatal continuing sequence→ Weqatal: continuative — the border 'meets/touches' Jericho's territoryפָּגַע (H6293) 'to meet, encounter, touch'; a fifth border-verb variant, softer than עָבַר, describing contact with rather than crossing through the named territory. Source id 06VUp.
בִּֽירִיח֔וֹat Jerichoprep בְּ + proper noun · יְרִיחוֹ (H3405)Prepositional phrase (spatial, object of contact)יְרִיחוֹ (H3405); the border brushes Jericho's territory, recalling the chapter's opening landmark and closing the southern loop of Ephraim's eastern border. Source id 06E1n.
וְיָצָ֖אand it goes outconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · יָצָא (H3318)Predicate verb, weqatal, terminal formula→ Weqatal: continuative — the border's terminus at the Jordanיָצָא (H3318) 'to go out'; frames the whole eastern circuit, echoing the chapter's opening verb (v. 1). Source id 06Y2Y.
הַיַּרְדֵּֽןat the Jordanart + proper noun · יַרְדֵּן (H3383)Object/terminus of the verbיַרְדֵּן (H3383) 'Jordan'; the eastern border's terminus, closing the circuit that began at the Jordan by Jericho in v. 1. Source id 065sD.
8
מִתַּפּ֜וּחַ יֵלֵ֨ךְ הַגְּב֥וּל יָ֨מָּה֙ נַ֣חַל קָנָ֔ה וְהָי֥וּ תֹצְאֹתָ֖יו הַיָּ֑מָּה זֹ֗את נַחֲלַ֛ת מַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵי אֶפְרַ֖יִם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם
From Tappuah the border goes westward to the brook Kanah, and its ends are at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Ephraim by their clans.
Closes the border-survey proper with the standard zot-nachalat ('this is the inheritance') formula, framing vv. 5-8 as Ephraim's discrete legal territorial unit; the verb briefly shifts to yiqtol (יֵלֵךְ) rather than the weqatal chain used elsewhere.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
מִתַּפּ֜וּחַfrom Tappuahprep מִן + proper noun · תַּפּוּחַ (H8599)Prepositional phrase (spatial, source), frontedתַּפּוּחַ (H8599) 'apple/quince (town)'; a border town shared with Manasseh's list (17:8, where the town itself belongs to Manasseh though the land around it went to Ephraim) — another interlocking-territory notice. Source id 06mZV.
יֵלֵ֨ךְit goesQal impf 3ms · הָלַךְ (H3212)Predicate verb (main clause), yiqtol→ Yiqtol: imperfective, describing the border's ongoing course — a shift from the weqatal chain to a plain finite imperfectהָלַךְ (H3212, by-form of H1980) 'to go, walk'; the verb form switches to yiqtol here, perhaps stylistic variation within the survey's closing lines. Source id 06XL9.
הַגְּב֥וּלthe borderart + N m sg abs · גְּבוּל (H1366)Subject of יֵלֵךְגְּבוּל (H1366) 'border'. Source id 06dgp.
יָ֨מָּה֙westwardN m sg abs + directional ה · יָם (H3220)Adverbial accusative of directionיָם (H3220) 'sea'; 'toward the sea', westward. Source id 06P1D.
נַ֣חַלto the brook ofN m sg constr · נַחַל (H5158)Object/goal, construct governing קָנָהנַחַל (H5158) 'wadi, torrent-valley'; construct with קָנָה. Source id 06Voq.
קָנָ֔הKanahproper noun · קָנָה (H7071)Genitive, completing constructקָנָה (H7071) 'reed'; נַחַל קָנָה 'Reed Brook/Wadi Kanah', a coastal stream that also serves as part of Manasseh's southern border (17:9) — the two tribes' territories are stitched together along it. Source id 06cuR.
וְהָי֥וּand areconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3cp · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb, weqatal (existential/copular), terminus formula→ Weqatal: stating the resultant terminus — the standard closing formulaהָיָה (H1961) 'to be'; the same terminus-formula as v. 3, closing the western leg. Source id 06nKb.
תֹצְאֹתָ֖יוits endsN f pl constr + 3ms suffix · תוֹצָאָה (H8444)Subject of וְהָיוּתוֹצָאָה (H8444) 'outgoing, extremity'; standard full spelling here (contrast the Ketiv/Qere pair of v. 3). Source id 06zRe.
הַיָּ֑מָּהat the seaart + N m sg abs + directional ה · יָם (H3220)Predicate complement (locative)יָם (H3220) 'sea'; the Mediterranean, the border's final western terminus. Source id 06cp8.
זֹ֗אתthisdemonstrative pron f sg · זֹאת (H2063)Subject of the nominal summary clauseזֹאת (H2063) 'this' (f.); introduces the summary formula closing the border description, standard across the allotment chapters. Source id 06ubs.
נַחֲלַ֛תthe inheritance ofN f sg constr · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Predicate nominative, construct governing מַטֵּהנַחֲלָה (H5159) 'inheritance, possession'. Source id 06TwC.
מַטֵּ֥הthe tribe ofN m sg constr · מַטֶּה (H4294)Genitive, construct continuing chainמַטֶּה (H4294) 'staff, tribe' (a rod as symbol of tribal authority, hence 'tribe'). Source id 06Eio.
בְנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive, construct continuing chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'. Source id 06tLC.
אֶפְרַ֖יִםEphraimproper noun · אֶפְרַיִם (H669)Genitive, completing the construct chainאֶפְרַיִם (H669); the tribe whose closing formula names it explicitly, echoing v. 5's heading. Source id 067Pm.
לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽםby their clansprep לְ + N f pl constr + 3mp suffix · מִשְׁפָּחָה (H4940)Prepositional phrase (distributive/manner)מִשְׁפָּחָה (H4940) 'clan'; closes the formula with the same phrase that opened it in v. 5, bracketing Ephraim's border description as a discrete legal unit. Source id 06CaG.
9
וְהֶעָרִ֗ים הַמִּבְדָּלוֹת֙ לִבְנֵ֣י אֶפְרַ֔יִם בְּת֖וֹךְ נַחֲלַ֣ת בְּנֵֽי מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה כָּֽל הֶעָרִ֖ים וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן
together with the cities set apart for the sons of Ephraim within the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh — all the cities with their villages.
A supplementary notice, added after the closing formula of v. 8, records territorial enclaves — Ephraimite towns lying inside Manasseh's larger block — using the rare passive form הַמִּבְדָּלוֹת; a reminder that these tribal 'borders' describe legal jurisdiction over interspersed cities, not neat contiguous zones.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וְהֶעָרִ֗יםand the citiesconj וְ + art + N f pl abs · עִיר (H5892)Subject/topic of the nominal enclave-noticeעִיר (H5892) 'city, town'; introduces a supplementary note appended after the closing formula of v. 8, an unusual placement that signals it as an addendum. Source id 061Ux.
הַמִּבְדָּלוֹת֙set apartart + N f pl abs (passive-ptc-like nominal) · מֻבְדָּל (H3995)Attributive, modifying הֶעָרִיםמֻבְדָּלוֹת (H3995), a rare passive/Hophal-type form of בָּדַל 'to separate, set apart' — occurring only here in this nominal shape; 'the cities that were separated out' for Ephraim though geographically lying within Manasseh's territory, capturing the enclave arrangement precisely. Source id 06uTK.
לִבְנֵ֣יfor the sons ofprep לְ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Prepositional phrase (beneficiary)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; marks the beneficiary tribe, Ephraim, of these enclave cities. Source id 06RC9.
אֶפְרַ֔יִםEphraimproper noun · אֶפְרַיִם (H669)Genitive, completing constructאֶפְרַיִם (H669). Source id 06chV.
בְּת֖וֹךְin the midst ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · תָּוֶךְ (H8432)Prepositional phrase (spatial), governing נַחֲלַתתָּוֶךְ (H8432) 'midst, middle'; the enclave cities lie territorially inside Manasseh's block — tribal geography interlocks rather than forming tidy contiguous blocks. Source id 06p9U.
נַחֲלַ֣תthe inheritance ofN f sg constr · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Object of preposition, construct governing בְּנֵי מְנַשֶּׁהנַחֲלָה (H5159) 'inheritance'. Source id 06hWs.
בְּנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive, construct continuing chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'. Source id 06SiP.
מְנַשֶּׁ֑הManassehproper noun · מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519)Genitive, completing construct chainמְנַשֶּׁה (H4519); the neighboring half-tribe whose block contains these Ephraimite enclaves — anticipates ch. 17's fuller treatment of Manasseh's own scattered cities (17:11). Source id 06kzz.
כָּֽלallN m sg constr (quantifier) · כֹּל (H3605)Quantifier, construct governing הֶעָרִיםכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every, whole'; summarizing quantifier closing the enclave note. Source id 06G6H.
הֶעָרִ֖יםthe citiesart + N f pl abs · עִיר (H5892)Genitive, completing construct with כָּלעִיר (H5892) 'city'; resumptive, restating הֶעָרִים of the verse's opening. Source id 06e1Q.
וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽןand their villagesconj וְ + N c pl constr + 3fp suffix · חָצֵר (H2691)Coordinate noun, completing the construct pair with הֶעָרִיםחָצֵר (H2691) 'court, enclosure, village'; the standard 'cities and their (surrounding) villages' formula denoting a city with its dependent hamlets and farmland. Source id 06wM8.
10
וְלֹ֣א הוֹרִ֔ישׁוּ אֶת הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י הַיּוֹשֵׁ֣ב בְּגָ֑זֶר וַיֵּ֨שֶׁב הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֜י בְּקֶ֤רֶב אֶפְרַ֨יִם֙ עַד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה וַיְהִ֖י לְמַס עֹבֵֽד
But they did not dispossess the Canaanite who dwelt in Gezer; so the Canaanite has dwelt in the midst of Ephraim to this day, and has become a forced-labor slave.
The chapter's theological punchline: the negated הוֹרִישׁוּ formula (third occurrence after 13:13; 15:63) undercuts the tidy border-survey with an honest admission of incomplete conquest, resolved institutionally (not militarily) by reducing Gezer's Canaanites to מַס עֹבֵד, forced labor — a pattern that recurs under Solomon centuries later.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
וְלֹ֣אbut ... notconj וְ + negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the following verb הוֹרִישׁוּלֹא (H3808) 'not'; introduces the chapter's closing note of incomplete conquest, adversative in force ('but they did not'). Source id 06xaJ.
הוֹרִ֔ישׁוּthey dispossessedHiphil perf 3cp · יָרַשׁ (H3423)Predicate verb (main clause, negated)→ Perfective (negated): a completed action that failed to occur — the standard formula of incomplete conquestיָרַשׁ (H3423) 'to possess, inherit'; Hiphil 'to dispossess, drive out'. The negated Hiphil perfect is the exact refrain used at 13:13 and 15:63 — this is its third occurrence, forming a deliberate pattern of honest incompleteness across the allotment narratives. Source id 06M8s.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)אֵת (H853), nota accusativi marking הַכְּנַעֲנִי as the definite direct object of הוֹרִישׁוּ; untranslated in English. Source id 06TuB.
הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖יthe Canaaniteart + gentilic N m sg abs · כְּנַעֲנִי (H3669)Direct object of הוֹרִישׁוּכְּנַעֲנִי (H3669) 'Canaanite'; the indigenous population whose continued presence contradicts the conquest ideal, named twice in this verse. Source id 06h4J.
הַיּוֹשֵׁ֣בwho dweltart + Qal ptc m sg abs · יָשַׁב (H3427)Attributive participle (relative clause), modifying הַכְּנַעֲנִי→ Participle: durative, ongoing dwelling — describes the Canaanite's settled presence at the time of the (failed) conquestיָשַׁב (H3427) 'to dwell, sit, remain'; the articular participle functions as a relative clause, 'the one dwelling'. Source id 06MMi.
בְּגָ֑זֶרin Gezerprep בְּ + proper noun · גֶּזֶר (H1507)Prepositional phrase (spatial), completing הַיּוֹשֵׁבגֶּזֶר (H1507); the border city named in v. 3, now revealed as never actually conquered — Egypt later burns it and gives it to Solomon as dowry (1 Kgs 9:16), centuries after this notice. Source id 06g3H.
וַיֵּ֨שֶׁבand dwellsconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · יָשַׁב (H3427)Predicate verb (main clause), wayyiqtol→ Wayyiqtol used with gnomic/durative force: 'and so the Canaanite dwells' — a standing state of affairs, not a single past eventיָשַׁב (H3427) 'to dwell'; though formally wayyiqtol, the sense is gnomic/continuous — the situation persists into the narrator's own present, marked explicitly by עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה. Source id 06fBm.
הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֜יthe Canaaniteart + gentilic N m sg abs · כְּנַעֲנִי (H3669)Subject of וַיֵּשֶׁבכְּנַעֲנִי (H3669); repeated as the subject of the persisting-presence clause, underscoring the point. Source id 06uR2.
בְּקֶ֤רֶבin the midst ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · קֶרֶב (H7130)Prepositional phrase (spatial), construct governing אֶפְרַיִםקֶרֶב (H7130) 'midst, inward part'; the Canaanite is not merely nearby but embedded within Ephraim's own population. Source id 06Z42.
אֶפְרַ֨יִם֙Ephraimproper noun · אֶפְרַיִם (H669)Genitive, completing constructאֶפְרַיִם (H669); the tribe whose incomplete conquest is confessed here, closing the chapter on an ironic note after the detailed, triumphant-sounding border survey. Source id 06feu.
עַדuntoprep · עַד (H5704)Prepositional head governing הַיּוֹם הַזֶּהעַד (H5704) 'as far as, until'; here temporal, 'until/to'. Source id 06SCB.
הַיּ֣וֹםthe dayart + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Object of preposition, head of the phrase הַיּוֹם הַזֶּהיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; in the idiom עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה 'to this day', a narratorial time-marker signaling the gap between the events narrated and the writer's own present. Source id 062V8.
הַזֶּ֔הthisart + demonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Attributive demonstrative, modifying הַיּוֹםזֶה (H2088) 'this'; completes the idiom 'to this day', a formula marking enduring, unresolved conditions from the narrator's vantage point. Source id 06QjH.
וַיְהִ֖יand he becameconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (main clause), wayyiqtol→ Wayyiqtol: narrative-summary — the final, decisive outcome of the failure to dispossessהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; marks the chapter's terminal verdict on the unconquered Canaanite population. Source id 066H5.
לְמַסas forced laborprep לְ + N m sg constr · מַס (H4522)Predicate complement (result), construct governing עֹבֵדמַס (H4522) 'forced labor, corvée, tribute-gang'; the institution by which unconquered or subjugated populations were compelled into state labor — the same term recurs for Solomon's later corvée levies (1 Kgs 5:13; 9:15, 21), tying this notice forward into the monarchy's labor practices. Source id 06pdZ.
עֹבֵֽדlaboringQal ptc m sg abs · עָבַד (H5647)Attributive participle, modifying/completing מַס (construct + participle, 'forced-labor-doer')→ Participle: characterizing, ongoing state — permanently reduced to labor statusעָבַד (H5647) 'to work, serve'; the participle in construct after מַס yields the technical phrase 'forced-labor slave/serf' — the Canaanite's final status, a diminished but enduring presence within Ephraim's territory. Source id 06UsU.