Joshua 24:28-33 · Bible study
Joshua 24:28-33 Commentary: Inheritance and Covenant After Joshua
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore how Joshua’s death, Joseph’s burial, and Eleazar’s passing underscore the transition from leadership to personal responsibility in the Promised Land.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The concluding chapter of Joshua marks the transition from the faithful leadership of Joshua to the people's direct covenantal responsibility in the land.
- Key words: Inheritance (nachalah), servant (eved), know (yada), bones (atzamot), buried (qavar).
- Main debate: The timing of Joseph's burial, whether at the close of conquest or earlier, and the significance of the Septuagint addition of stone knives in Joshua's tomb.
- Together, we grow: Discussions, questions, and shared wisdom from this study will deepen our understanding.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
28Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.
29Some time later, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110.
30And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
31Israel had served the LORD throughout the days of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced all the works that the LORD had done for Israel.
32And the bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought up out of Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the plot of land that Jacob had purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver. So it became an inheritance for Joseph’s descendants.
33Eleazar son of Aaron also died, and they buried him at Gibeah, which had been given to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim.
WEB World English Bible 2000
28So Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.
29After these things, Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Yahweh, died, being one hundred ten years old.
30They buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.
31Israel served Yahweh all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, and had known all the work of Yahweh, that he had worked for Israel.
32They buried the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, in Shechem, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of silver. They became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.
33Eleazar the son of Aaron died. They buried him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the hill country of Ephraim.
KJV King James Version 1769
28So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance.
29And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
30And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath–serah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.
31And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the Lord, that he had done for Israel.
32And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.
33And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
28So Joshua sent the people away, every man unto his inheritance.
29And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Jehovah, died, being a hundred and ten years old.
30And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah, which is in the hill-country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.
31And Israel served Jehovah all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, and had known all the work of Jehovah, that he had wrought for Israel.
32And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money: and they became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.
33And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the hill-country of Ephraim.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
28And Joshua sendeth the people away, each to his inheritance.
29And it cometh to pass, after these things, that Joshua son of Nun, servant of Jehovah, dieth, a son of a hundred and ten years,
30and they bury him in the border of his inheritance, in Timnath-Serah, which is in the hill-country of Ephraim, on the north of the hill of Gaash.
31And Israel serveth Jehovah all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who prolonged days after Joshua, and who knew all the work of Jehovah which He did to Israel.
32And the bones of Joseph, which the sons of Israel brought up out of Egypt, they buried in Shechem, in the portion of the field which Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor father of Shechem, with a hundred kesitah; and they are to the sons of Joseph for an inheritance.
33And Eleazar son of Aaron died, and they bury him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which was given to him in the hill-country of Ephraim.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
28And Joshua dismissed the people, every man to his inheritance.
29And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Jehovah, died, a hundred and ten years old.
30And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the mountain of Gaash.
31And Israel served Jehovah all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders whose days were prolonged after Joshua, and who had known all the works of Jehovah, which he had done for Israel.
32And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem in the portion of the field which Jacob had bought of the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred kesitahs; and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.
33And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which had been given him in mount Ephraim.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
28And he sent the people away every one to their own possession,
29And after these things Joshua the son of Nun the servant of the Lord died, being a hundred and ten years old:
30And they buried him in the border of his possession in Thamnathsare, which is situate in mount Ephraim, on the north side of mount Gaas.
31And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and of the ancients that lived a long time after Joshua, and that had known all the works of the Lord which he had done in Israel.
32And the bones of Joseph which the children of Israel had taken out of Egypt, they buried in Sichem, in that part of the field which Jacob had bought of the sons of Hemor the father of Sichem, for a hundred young ewes, and it was in the possession of the sons of Joseph.
33Eleazar also the son of Aaron died: and they buried him in Gabaath that belongeth to Phinees his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Joshua 24:28
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
The commentary tradition uniformly reads Joshua 24:28-33 as a conclusion that honors the past yet foreshadows the future. Matthew Henry and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown note the solemnity of Joshua sending the people away 'each to his own inheritance', a final act transferring covenant responsibility from leader to people. On Joshua's death at 110, Calvin, Gill, and Clarke observe the deliberate parallel with Joseph (Genesis 50:22,26): Joshua completes the exodus story Joseph began. The title 'servant of Yahweh' (eved) echoes Deuteronomy 34:5, placing Joshua in the line of faithful servants. Verse 31 draws special attention: 'Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua.' Calvin calls this a 'tacit antithesis', the narrator knows apostasy comes after this generation (Judges 2:10-11). The elders are those who 'knew' (yada) all the work of Yahweh, experiential knowledge through firsthand witness. The burial of Joseph's bones (v32) fulfills a four-hundred-year-old oath (Genesis 50:24-25). Wesley suggests the Shechem assembly may have timed this burial. Eleazar's death (v33) completes the passing of the founding generation. There is broad agreement that this passage marks the end of the conquest era and the beginning of direct covenant accountability for the people.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The passage records the deaths of Joshua and Eleazar, the burial of Joseph's bones, and the faithfulness of the generation that witnessed God's works, marking the transition from the conquest generation to the people's own responsibility in the land.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'servant of Yahweh' for Joshua | All traditions see this as a title of honor, equating Joshua with Moses (Deuteronomy 34:5). | No significant theological debate; it affirms his faithful leadership and typological role. |
| Burial of Joseph's bones | Joseph's final request was fulfilled, and his burial at Shechem ties the patriarchs to the conquest generation. | Scholars differ slightly on timing, whether the burial occurred shortly after the conquest (Clarke) or was delayed and recorded here as a narrative summary (Calvin notes the text does not specify the time). |
| Israel's faithfulness after Joshua | The text indicates Israel served God during Joshua's lifetime and the lives of the elders who had known God's works. | Some commentators (e.g., Calvin) read this as a subtle critique of the next generation, while others (e.g., Cambridge Bible) emphasize the fruit of Joshua's ministry as a positive witness. |
Historical & Cultural Context
To understand this passage, step into ancient Israel after the conquest. The land has been divided among the tribes, and each person is sent to 'his own inheritance' (nachalah). This word means not just property but a sacred grant from Yahweh, tied to the patriarchs. Shechem, where the covenant was renewed (Joshua 24), held deep patriarchal roots, Abraham built an altar there (Genesis 12:6-7), Jacob purchased land there (Genesis 33:19). It was here that Joseph's bones were finally laid to rest, uniting the burial of a patriarch with the possession of the land.
The burial of Joseph's bones (v32) was a dramatic act of faith. Moses had carried the embalmed remains out of Egypt (Exodus 13:19); for forty years in the wilderness and through the conquest, the Israelites transported this sacred coffin. Now, after the land was secured, they interred it at Shechem. Gill and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown note that the hundred pieces of silver (kesitah) paid by Jacob match the purchase of a field that became a family tomb. This burial fulfilled Joseph's dying command (Genesis 50:25) and symbolically joined the exodus generation to the land.
Joshua's own burial in Timnath-serah (v30) follows the pattern of burial within one's inheritance. The tomb site, identified by Lieut. Conder as a striking monument, lies in the hill country of Ephraim. The mention of 'the mountain of Gaash' anchors the location in real geography. The death of Eleazar (v33) marks the end of high priestly leadership that served the wilderness generation; he is buried in a hill given to his son Phinehas, also in Ephraim. With these deaths, the generation that witnessed the crossing of the Jordan and the fall of Jericho passes from the scene. As Ellicott's Commentary puts it, 'the light of Israel for the time faded away.' The people now face the challenge of serving God without the visible leadership of the founders.
Textual Notes
The Hebrew text of Joshua 24:28-33 is well-preserved. The Septuagint contains a significant addition after verse 30, stating that the Israelites placed the stone knives used for circumcision at Gilgal in Joshua's tomb. This tradition is mentioned by Adam Clarke and John Gill, with Gill noting that some Arabic writers repeat it; St. Augustine also references it. However, this addition is absent from the Masoretic Text and is widely regarded as a later oral tradition. Another minor variation: the Septuagint places verse 31 immediately after verse 28 in some manuscripts. These variants do not affect the overall meaning of the passage.
Reception History
Early Christian interpreters, as early as the Epistle to the Hebrews (chapter 4), saw Joshua as a type of Christ, one who leads God's people into rest. The burial of Joseph's bones is cited as a model of faith (Hebrews 11:22). John Calvin used verse 31 to warn against the fragility of human authority, urging each generation to embrace God's works personally. Matthew Henry saw in the burials a pastoral comfort, a testimony to the hope of resurrection. John Wesley connected the parallel ages of Joseph and Joshua, reflecting on the faithfulness that spans generations. In modern preaching, this passage frequently serves funerals for those who have served the church faithfully, emphasizing the transfer of responsibility to the next generation.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Dismissal to Inheritance (v28). Joshua releases the people to possess their land, an ending and a beginning. His work is complete; now they must live the covenant daily, in their own plots of ground.
- Faithfulness That Depends on Witness (v31). Israel serves God only as long as those who saw His works remain. The elders 'knew' (yada) God's deeds firsthand. When that generation dies, faith wavers. This warns against secondhand religion.
- The Buried Promises (v32-33). Joseph's bones and Eleazar's burial show God's faithfulness to promises made centuries earlier. Every burial in the land testifies that God keeps His word across generations.
Five-point outline
- Joshua's last public act: sending the people away with a charge (v28).
- Joshua's death: the 'servant of Yahweh' dies at 110, matching Joseph (v29).
- The elders who prolonged their days: their firsthand knowledge sustained the nation (v31).
- Joseph's bones: a four-century journey reaches its end at Shechem (v32).
- Eleazar's death: the high priest of the wilderness generation is laid to rest (v33).
Illustration hooks
- A founder of an organization passes away, and the next generation must carry the mission without their presence. The founder's legacy can inspire, but faith must become their own.
- A family heirloom passed down through generations, Joseph's bones traveled for centuries before finding rest. The story behind the object matters more than the object itself.
- The feeling after a major transition (graduation, retirement, moving out) when everyone heads to their own homes. The real work begins in the everyday.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did Israel stop following God so quickly after Joshua died? What does that say about the nature of transmitted faith?
- How can we pass on a faith that the next generation truly owns, not just inherits as a memory?
- What does it mean for us to possess our spiritual inheritance now, in our own place and time?
Leading a Discussion
This passage concludes the book of Joshua with a series of burials and a summary of Israel's faithfulness. It invites us to consider how we pass on faith to those who did not experience the foundational events. The people are sent to their own inheritances, and the generation that had known God's works begins to pass away. How does this transition speak to your community?
Discussion questions
- What events does the narrator choose to record in these final verses? Why might the burial of Joseph be included here?
- The elders are described as those who 'had known all the work of the Lord' (v31). In Hebrew, yada implies deep, experiential knowledge. How does this differ from simply hearing about God's actions?
- Joshua sends each person to his own inheritance (v28). How does this act transfer responsibility from the leader to the people? In your faith life, what does it mean to 'possess your inheritance'?
- Verse 31 notes that Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and the elders. Why do you think the narrator adds this observation? What does it imply about the next generation?
- Joseph's bones were carried for centuries before burial. What does this act of faithfulness say about the importance of honoring promises across generations?
- How can your small group or church ensure that younger members come to 'know' the Lord's work for themselves, not just hear about it?
- This passage is a transition point, from the conquest to the judges. In your own life, when have you experienced a transition where you had to take personal responsibility for your faith?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Judges 2:6 | Now when Joshua had sent the people away, the children of Israel each went to his inheritance to possess the land. |
| Genesis 50:22 | Joseph lived in Egypt, he, and his father’s house. Joseph lived one hundred ten years. |
| Genesis 50:26 | So Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. |
| Deuteronomy 34:5 | So Moses the servant of Yahweh died there in the land of Moab, according to Yahweh’s word. |
| Judges 2:8 | Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Yahweh, died, being one hundred ten years old. |
| Psalms 115:17 | The dead don’t praise Yah, nor any who go down into silence, |
| II Timothy 4:7 | I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. |
| II Timothy 4:8 | From now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that Joshua died at 110, the same age as Joseph, and observes the Bible records no public mourning, suggesting Joshua likely forbade funeral pomp and was buried privately. He also points out that despite private idolatry among the people, there was no public idolatry during Joshua's lifetime and that of the elders who outlived him.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that Eleazar’s burial place is located not at Tibneh, as some suppose, but in the village of ‘Awertah, citing Conder’s geographical placement as the correct identification.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary highlights that Joshua's final address was not a soldier's speech about conquest but a patriarchal and prophetic call to holiness and obedience. It notes that the aged leader spoke to his people as a father, leaving behind a lingering influence that temporarily guided Israel's wandering eyes toward heaven even after his death.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note observes that Israel's faithfulness to the Lord lasted only as long as Joshua and the elders who had witnessed God's mighty works remained alive. The burials of Joshua, Joseph's bones, and Eleazar are recorded to show that this generation received their promised inheritances and were laid to rest in the land God gave them.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB observes that Joshua's greatest honor was not a monument but the simple epitaph "the servant of the Lord" given by the historian. His fervent piety and virtues so impressed the people that Israel remained faithful to God throughout his lifetime and beyond, a testimony to his character.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange highlights a clear contrast between Joshua's two farewell addresses. The first looks forward to what Jehovah will still do for Israel in completing the conquest, while the second looks back in detail at what Jehovah has done since the patriarchs. Joshua himself keeps his own merits entirely in the background.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry points to the striking contrast that ends the book: a chapter that began with Israel's victories now closes with burials. For him, the funerals of Joshua, Joseph's bones, and Eleazar are a sobering reminder that even the greatest human leaders pass away, staining all earthly glory.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley sees the burial of Joseph's bones not merely as a duty completed but as a solemn occasion that naturally led Joshua to deliver both Joseph's funeral sermon and his own farewell sermon. Being the same age as Joseph when he died, Joshua was reminded his own end was near. Wesley also observes that after Joshua and his generation passed, religion quickly decayed, unlike the gospel church where Christ, our Joshua, remains forever.