5-9. the border of their inheritance . . . was Ataroth-addar—Ataroth-addar (now Atara), four miles south of Jetta [ROBINSON], is fixed on as a center, through which a line is drawn from Upper Beth-horon to Michmethah, showing the western limit of their actual possessions. The tract beyond that to the sea was still unconquered.

     6, 7. Michmethah on the north side—The northern boundary is traced from this point eastward to the Jordan.

     8. from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah—It is retraced from east to west, to describe the prospective and intended boundary, which was to reach to the sea. Kanah ("reedy") flows into the Mediterranean.

     9. separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of Manasseh— (Jos 17:9), because it was found that the tract allotted to Ephraim was too small in proportion to its population and power.