Joshua 16:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"And the Canaanites dwelt among the Ephraimites until this day." The term Ephraim signifies "fruitfulness." Thus, the bearer of fruit struggles to expel the Canaanite, representing a cursed lineage, from his own land even now. This reflects the situation of the Church. Furthermore, in another perspective: the soul, in its current existence, cannot wholly embody Jerusalem, seeing only the world and remaining without sin; it must gaze upon Christ, the Prince of Peace, while consistently bearing fruit. For no one is free from impurity or errant thoughts, ensuring that Jebusites and Canaanites will inevitably cohabit within Jerusalem, despite our efforts to remove them by invoking God, who is the only one capable of such deliverance.