The northernmost city, Michmethath, is in 17.7 said to be east of Shechem; and Taanath Shiloh is located by Bright east of Michmethath. Janoah, Ataroth (not the same as Ataroth Addar), Naarah, and Jericho describe the eastern boundary, from north to south.

Tappuah and the stream Kanah are to be found in biblical maps. Kanah runs into the Mediterranean about 6 kilometers north of Jaffa.

Verse 9 specifies that some towns and villages, which are not identified, and which were inside West Manasseh’s territory, were allotted to Ephraim (see 17.8-9).

If verse 6-9 are combined, a more logical arrangement results:

• 6-9 and from there to the Mediterranean Sea. Their northern border began at the city of Taanath Shiloh and went westward to the city of Michmethath and then followed the stream Kanah to the Mediterranean Sea. From Michmethath the eastern border went south through the cities of Taanath Shiloh, Janoah, Ataroth, Naarah, and finally to the Jordan River at a point near Jericho. This territory, together with its cities and villages, lay within the territory of the tribe of Manasseh. But Joshua gave it to the tribe of Ephraim as its possession.

This represents a slightly different interpretation of the text than that of Good News Translation in verse 8b-9, but it does appear to represent more accurately the meaning of the Hebrew. To the families of the tribe of Ephraim (verse 8) has been shortened to “to the tribe of Ephraim.” But “at the city of Tannath Shiloh” may need further identification to indicate the movement of description from the Mediterranean Sea of the previous sentence: “… Taanath Shiloh on the edge of the Jordan Valley.”

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 .