Joshua 24 32

Joshua 24:32 kjv

And 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.

Joshua 24:32 nkjv

The bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried at Shechem, in the plot of ground which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for one hundred pieces of silver, and which had become an inheritance of the children of Joseph.

Joshua 24:32 niv

And Joseph's bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph's descendants.

Joshua 24:32 esv

As for the bones of Joseph, which the people of Israel brought up from Egypt, they buried them at Shechem, in the piece of land that Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money. It became an inheritance of the descendants of Joseph.

Joshua 24:32 nlt

The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought along with them when they left Egypt, were buried at Shechem, in the plot of land Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor for 100 pieces of silver. This land was located in the territory allotted to the descendants of Joseph.

Joshua 24 verses

Joshua 24 32 Meaning

Joshua 24:32 records the long-awaited burial of Joseph's bones in the land of Canaan, specifically at Shechem. This act marks the symbolic and physical culmination of the Exodus and the fulfillment of a prophecy and a solemn oath made generations earlier. It signifies that Israel has indeed reached their promised inheritance, securing their place in the land through divine promise, ancestral claim, and their commitment to Yahweh. The burial reinforces God's faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises over many centuries.

Joshua 24 32 Context

h2 ContextJoshua 24:32 concludes a pivotal chapter in the book of Joshua. Chapter 24 describes Joshua's farewell address to the assembled tribes of Israel at Shechem. This gathering served as a solemn covenant renewal ceremony, where Joshua reminded the people of God's faithfulness from Abraham's time, through the Exodus, and into their present occupation of the Promised Land. He presented them with the stark choice: serve Yahweh alone or serve other gods. Their declaration to serve Yahweh led to the reaffirmation of the covenant. Immediately following this renewed commitment, the deaths of Joshua and Eleazar are recorded, along with the significant detail of Joseph's burial. This specific historical context underscores the complete fulfillment of divine promises to Israel, connecting the ancestral heritage (Joseph and Jacob) with the present reality of their inheritance in the land, secured through Yahweh's power and their obedience. The location of Shechem itself is crucial, being a historically significant site where God first appeared to Abraham in Canaan, where Jacob settled, and where Joshua now brought the nation to rededicate themselves. This particular verse thus acts as a closing statement of fulfillment, tying generations together under God's covenant.

Joshua 24 32 Word analysis

h2 Word analysis

• The bones of Joseph (וְאֶת־עַצְמוֹת יוֹסֵף):
  • Bones (עֲצָמוֹת, 'atsamowt): While literal bones, in Hebrew, "bones" can often represent the whole person or their mortal remains, signifying the physical presence of the deceased. Joseph's body was not left in Egypt, signifying his belonging to Israel and their ultimate destiny.
  • Joseph (יוֹסֵף, Yosef): Son of Jacob, crucial figure connecting Israel to Egypt, his faith ensured his people carried his remains to the Promised Land as an act of profound trust in God's promises (Heb 11:22). His story is central to Israel's deliverance and continuity.
• which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt (אֲשֶׁר־הֶעֱלוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָיִם):
  • Brought up (הֶעֱלוּ, he'elû): Hiphil perfect form of עָלָה, 'alâh, meaning to cause to ascend or to bring up. This is the very word used for the "Exodus" or "going up" out of Egypt. It explicitly connects Joseph's burial to the fulfillment of the great liberation from Egypt. Moses himself fulfilled Joseph's command (Exod 13:19), embodying the corporate faithfulness of Israel.
  • From Egypt (מִמִּצְרַיִם, mimmit͡srayim): The land of bondage, from which Yahweh delivered His people. The removal of Joseph's bones signifies a complete severance from Egypt and a full entry into the promised inheritance.
• were buried (קָבְרוּ, qavru):
  • Signifies a definitive completion and resting. This burial brought closure to the long journey and the oath.
• at Shechem (בִּשְׁכֶם):
  • Shechem (שְׁכֶם, shekhem): An immensely significant place in Israel's history. It was the first place Abraham built an altar to Yahweh in Canaan (Gen 12:6-7), Jacob resided there (Gen 33:18-20), and it was where Joshua gathered Israel for covenant renewal (Josh 24:1). Its central location emphasizes unity and continuity of God's covenant people.
• in the piece of ground that Jacob had bought for a hundred pieces of silver (בְּחֶלְקַת הַשָּׂדֶה אֲשֶׁר־קָנָה יַעֲקֹב בְּמֵאָה קְשִׂיטָה):
  • Piece of ground (חֶלְקַת הַשָּׂדֶה, khelqat hassadeh): A specific, owned plot of land. This emphasizes a legitimate, ancestral claim, not merely conquest.
  • Jacob had bought (קָנָה יַעֲקֹב, qanah Ya'aqov): Indicates legal acquisition and reinforces the Israelite claim to the land through their patriarchs, grounding their inheritance in both divine promise and legitimate human transaction. This provided a tangible, ancient basis for their ownership.
  • Hundred pieces of silver (מֵאָה קְשִׂיטָה, me'ah qesitah): Qesitah is an archaic unit of currency or weight, perhaps indicating a lamb or a specific amount of silver, signaling a valuable and verifiable purchase. This detail confirms the validity of the transaction for the original audience, making it a legal and indisputable claim.
• from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem (מֵאֵת בְּנֵי־חֲמוֹר אֲבִי־שְׁכֶם):
  • Provides precise details of the transaction, validating its historical veracity. The mention of "sons of Hamor" links back to Gen 34, a tragic event involving Dinah, yet the land transaction itself was legitimate.
• It became the inheritance of Joseph’s descendants (וַתְּהִי לְנַחֲלָה לִבְנֵי יוֹסֵף):
  • Inheritance (נַחֲלָה, nakhalah): A crucial theological concept, signifying land allotted by God, usually for a tribal or family unit. It's a divine gift that the people are called to occupy and stewarded.
  • Joseph's descendants (לִבְנֵי יוֹסֵף, livne Yosef): Referring to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, who received a double portion among the tribes of Israel due to Jacob's blessing upon them (Gen 48). Their rightful ownership of this ancestral plot cemented their double inheritance. This subtle point also serves as a polemic against Canaanite beliefs in ephemeral land deities; Israel's inheritance was not based on appeasing local gods, but on the enduring promise of Yahweh to specific descendants and locations.

Joshua 24 32 Bonus section

h2 Bonus sectionThe inclusion of Joshua 24:32 within Joshua's final charge, sandwiched between his death and that of Eleazar (Josh 24:29-31, 33), intentionally draws a profound connection. It shows that even as the leaders of one generation pass, God's purposes for His people continue to be fulfilled. Joseph's long-delayed burial becomes a witness to the enduring nature of God's covenant across the span of nearly four centuries since Joseph's death in Egypt. This act solidifies Israel's permanent identity and connection to the land. The Shechem location, being where Joshua gathered the tribes for renewal and where the original Abrahamic promise began, highlights cyclical themes of covenant, inheritance, and divine faithfulness from Genesis to the completed occupation under Joshua. This burial isn't just an archaeological note; it is a theological statement, an acted-out parable of God keeping every word He spoke to the patriarchs.

Joshua 24 32 Commentary

h2 CommentaryJoshua 24:32 delivers a concise, powerful message of divine faithfulness and the complete fulfillment of centuries-old promises. The burial of Joseph’s bones signifies the ultimate end of the Israelite journey from Egyptian slavery to their promised homeland. Joseph, through his faith, foretold this journey, and Moses, also through faith, initiated the carrying of these very bones. Now, under Joshua, the process concludes with a rightful resting place in the land. The location, Shechem, is strategically chosen and deeply meaningful, emphasizing not only the fulfillment of the land promise but also linking the present generation to their ancestral roots in Jacob's original land purchase. This detail, down to the "hundred pieces of silver," validates their land claim as divinely ordained and historically legitimate, standing in stark contrast to opportunistic pagan land appropriations. The land becomes an enduring "inheritance" for Joseph’s descendants, highlighting the continuity of God's covenant with generations of His people. The verse therefore encapsulates the Exodus, the conquest, and the patriarchal promises, assuring the readers that God is faithful to bring to pass what He has promised. This act serves as a potent spiritual reminder that God completes what He starts, providing a "rest" and inheritance for His people, a theme echoed in the ultimate rest provided in Christ (Heb 4).