Verse 7 gives the northwestern limit, the tribe of Asher; the southern limit was the city of Michmethath (see 16.6). At the end of the verse, Good News Translation translates the Hebrew text with its later traditional vowels as the people of Entappuah (also Revised Standard Version). By a change of vowels in the Hebrew text, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project understands it to mean “to Jashib-en-Tappuah”; Bible de Jérusalem, Jerusalem Bible have “to Yashib at the spring of Tappuah”; New English Bible “Jashub by Entappuah.” Whatever the precise meaning of the Hebrew phrase, the place is on the border with Ephraim (see 16.8).

The translation of this verse may be managed so as to indicate that reference is to the northern and southern borders of West Manasseh:

• In the northwest the territory of West Manasseh bordered on the territory of the tribe of Asher. The southern border ran from the city of Michmethath east of the city of Shechem and then south to the region where the people of Entappuah live.

To represent the alternative interpretation, one may translate “From the city of Shechem south to the city of Jashub (or, Jashib) near the spring of Tappuah.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .