Joshua 19 50

Joshua 19:50 kjv

According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.

Joshua 19:50 nkjv

According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked for, Timnath Serah in the mountains of Ephraim; and he built the city and dwelt in it.

Joshua 19:50 niv

as the LORD had commanded. They gave him the town he asked for?Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he built up the town and settled there.

Joshua 19:50 esv

By command of the LORD they gave him the city that he asked, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he rebuilt the city and settled in it.

Joshua 19:50 nlt

For the LORD had said he could have any town he wanted. He chose Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He rebuilt the town and lived there.

Joshua 19 verses

Joshua 19 50 Meaning

Joshua 19:50 describes the granting of an inheritance to Joshua, the leader of Israel, after the division of the land among the tribes. According to God's direct instruction, the Israelites gave him the city he requested, Timnath-serah, located within his tribal territory of Ephraim. Joshua then built and settled in the city. This verse highlights divine ordering, the faithful fulfillment of God's word, and Joshua's character as a humble servant leader who waited until everyone else had received their inheritance before securing his own.

Joshua 19 50 Context

Joshua chapter 19 concludes the detailed tribal allocations of the Promised Land to the remaining six tribes: Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan, and Simeon (whose portion was within Judah's territory). After meticulously listing each tribal boundary and the towns within their inheritances, the chapter culminates in the provision for Joshua himself. This arrangement signifies a divine order and Joshua's exemplary leadership. Historically, in the ancient Near East, conquering generals and kings typically claimed the choicest spoils or lands for themselves first. Joshua's act of waiting until all the tribes had received their portions, and then accepting a requested city that was not necessarily the "best," starkly contrasts with such worldly leadership models. It underscores a fundamental principle of humble, self-sacrificing leadership rooted in obedience to the Lord's command, as taught in Israel's law. This decision also reinforced that the land distribution was not arbitrary but based on God's prior instructions through Moses and lots, administered by His chosen leaders.

Joshua 19 50 Word analysis

• According to the commandment of the LORD:
  • Hebrew: עַל־פִּי יְהוָה (al-pī YHWH) - literally "upon the mouth of Yahweh."
  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes that the act of giving Joshua his inheritance was not a human invention or concession, but a direct divine mandate. It points to God's precise and authoritative instruction, demonstrating His sovereign involvement in every aspect of Israel's life, even in the minute details of land distribution. It also highlights Joshua's unwavering obedience to the Lord.
• they gave him:
  • Hebrew: וַיִּתְּנוּ לֹו֙ (vayitnu lō) - "and they gave to him." The subject "they" refers to the entire assembly or, more specifically, Eleazar the priest, Joshua himself (as an administrator of the lot, but not the beneficiary at this moment), and the heads of the tribes who were responsible for the land division, as noted in Joshua 19:51.
  • Significance: This emphasizes the communal consensus and lawful process involved. It was a formal, collective action by the legitimate authorities in Israel, validating Joshua's inheritance as justly received within the divine order, not seized.
• the city which he asked, namely, Timnath-serah:
  • Hebrew: אֶת־הָעִ֗יר אֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁאַל֙ אֶת־תִּמְנַת־סֶ֔רַח (et-hāʿîr ʾăšer šāʾal ʾet-timnat-særach).
  • Significance: "Asked" (שָׁאַל sha'al) implies a humble request, not a demand. Joshua did not arrogate the best land for himself; he awaited his turn and made a personal, modest choice. This action embodies true servant leadership. Timnath-serah was located in the hill country of Ephraim, his own tribe's territory. It was not a grand or central city but a place he apparently wished to reside, reflecting humility. (Note: It is referred to as Timnath-heres in Judges 2:9).
• in the hill country of Ephraim:
  • Hebrew: בְּהַ֥ר אֶפְרָֽיִם (bəhar ʾefrayim).
  • Significance: This locates Timnath-serah within Joshua's tribal inheritance. It shows that even though he was the national leader, his portion was naturally integrated with his family and tribal identity. The hill country of Ephraim was a strategically significant, mountainous region in central Israel.
• so he built the city and lived in it:
  • Hebrew: וַיִּ֨בֶן אֶת־הָעִ֔יר וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בָּֽהּ (vayiben et-hāʿîr vayēshev bāh).
  • Significance: "Built" (בָּנָה banah) can mean to restore, fortify, or reconstruct an existing settlement rather than building entirely from scratch. This action signifies that Joshua took active possession of his inheritance, making it habitable and secure. "Lived in it" (yashab) confirms his full occupation and settlement, completing the process of inheritance and taking up residence, much like the other tribes had begun to do.

Joshua 19 50 Bonus section

The distinction between Timnath-serah (Josh 19:50, 24:30) and Timnath-heres (Judges 2:9) for Joshua's city is generally understood to be either a slight variation in naming or a change in the name of the place after his death. Many scholars lean towards it being the same location, with the possibility of the latter name carrying a nuance related to 'the sun' (from Hebrew 'cheres'), possibly referencing a symbol of the sun on a mound or as a lamentation over Joshua, 'the sun' of Israel, setting. This minor textual detail does not alter the core theological implications of the verse. It further highlights that Joshua’s leadership and his final resting place were deeply integrated into the specific portion of the land given to Israel by divine appointment, confirming the complete fulfillment of God's promise.

Joshua 19 50 Commentary

Joshua 19:50 serves as a powerful capstone to the land division narrative. It underlines the divine precision and meticulousness in fulfilling the covenant promises, ensuring that every detail, even the inheritance of the nation's leader, was ordered by the Lord. This verse is profoundly significant for what it reveals about Joshua's character: a humble leader who prioritized the needs of the people he led over his own, accepting his inheritance last, as directly instructed by God. This stands as a striking antithesis to the typical power dynamics of ancient Near Eastern rulers, highlighting that in Israel, leadership under Yahweh was about service and obedience, not self-aggrandizement. Joshua's act of building and settling in Timnath-serah represents the peaceful, secure occupation of the land that was promised, demonstrating that God had indeed provided rest and a dwelling place for His faithful servant.