A Double Portion

The allotment for the descendants of Joseph extended from the 
Jordan River near Jericho, east of the springs of Jericho, through the wilderness and into the hill country of Bethel.  From Bethel (that is, Luz) it ran over to Ataroth in the territory of the Arkites.  Then it descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as Lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer and over to the Mediterranean Sea.

 This was the homeland allocated to the families of Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

The Land Given to Ephraim

  The following territory was given to the clans of the tribe of Ephraim.

   The boundary of their homeland began at Ataroth-addar in the east. From there it ran to Upper Beth-horon,  then on to the Mediterranean Sea. From Micmethath on the north, the boundary curved eastward past Taanath-shiloh to the east of Janoah.  From Janoah it turned southward to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho, and ended at the Jordan River.  From Tappuah the boundary extended westward, following the Kanah Ravine to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Ephraim.
  In addition, some towns with their surrounding villages in the territory allocated to the half-tribe of Manasseh were set aside for the tribe of Ephraim.  They did not drive the Canaanites out of Gezer, however, so the people of Gezer live as slaves among the people of Ephraim to this day. (Joshua 16:1-10)

Though Joseph was one of Jacob's 12 sons, he did not have a tribe named after him.  Yet his family group was due to receive a double portion of the land because Reuben messed up long ago (Gen. 49:3-4)  This double portion was given to Joseph's 2 sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, whom Jacob considered as his own (Gen. 48:5)  If you believe in Jesus, you are one of God's own.  What "portions" of God's mercy have you received recently?