Albert Barnes Commentary Joshua 17:9

"And the border went down unto the brook of Kanah, southward of the brook: these cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh: and the border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook, and the goings out thereof were at the sea:" — Joshua 17:9 (ASV)

These cities ... - The text is possibly corrupt. The intention seems to be to state that the cities lying south of the river, though within the limits of Manasseh, were in fact made over to Ephraim, and were among the separate cities (Joshua 16:9). On the contrary, the north bank of the river, both land and towns, belonged to Manasseh exclusively.