John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim , etc.] The tribe of Ephraim, being much larger than the half tribe of Manasseh, besides the lot that fell to it, described before by its boundaries, had several particular and distinct cities given to it: which [were] among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh ; some that were upon the borders of Ephraim, and within the territory of Manasseh, and it may be where it jetted out in a nook or corner, (see Joshua 17:8,9); all the cities with their villages ; not the separate cities only, but the little towns adjacent to them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The sons of Joseph.
--This and the following chapter should not be separated. They give the lots of Ephraim and Manasseh, the children of Joseph, who, next to Judah, were to have the post of honour, and therefore had the first an best portion in the northern part of Canaan, as Judah in the souther part. God's people now, as of old, suffer his enemies to remain Blessed Lord, when will all our enemies be subdued? 1Co 15:26. Do tho drive them all out; thou alone canst do it. These settled boundarie may remind us, that our situation and provision in this life, as wel as our future inheritance, are appointed by the only wise and righteou God, and we should be content with our portion, since he knows what is best for us, and all we have is more than we deserve _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew והערים5892 המבדלות3995 לבני1121 אפרים669 בתוך8432 נחלת5159 בני1121 מנשׁה4519 כל3605 הערים5892 וחצריהן׃2691
