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Joshua 16 · Grade 5

Settling for Less

Name Date

Read and Think

Joshua 16 turns to the children of Joseph. Long before, Jacob had taken Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh as his own. So Joseph got a double portion through two tribes. Their lot came out from the Jordan at Jericho, at the waters of Jericho on the east, going up through the hill country to Bethel.

The chapter traces Ephraim's border from Ataroth Addar to Upper Beth Horon and west to the sea. It also runs from Janoah down to Jericho and the Jordan. Some of Ephraim's cities were set apart in the middle of the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, with their villages.

The final verse is short but serious: They didn't drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell in the territory of Ephraim to this day, and have become servants to do forced labor. Ephraim gained workers but did not fully obey. The book of Joshua shows that God's gifts call for full obedience. Settling for less brings trouble later.

Show What You Know

  1. Who had taken Joseph's sons as his own?

  2. What did the lot of Joseph's children go up through?

  3. Where were some of Ephraim's cities set apart?

  4. What did Ephraim gain by not driving out the Canaanites?

  5. What do God's gifts call for, according to the book of Joshua?

Crossword

31254

Across

  1. The Canaanites stayed there.
  2. His two sons were Ephraim and Manasseh.

Down

  1. the brook of Kanah; and ended at the ____.
  2. through the hill country to ____.
  3. The younger son's tribe.

Think About It

  1. Ephraim settled for less than full obedience. Where might you be tempted to settle for partial obedience?

  2. How can you thank God for the place He has given you to live?

Memory Verse

“The children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.”

Joshua 16:4 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for a place to live. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Why is partial obedience a problem?
  • How can we obey God fully even when it is easier not to?
  • What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.