Joshua 24 33

Joshua 24:33 kjv

And 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.

Joshua 24:33 nkjv

And Eleazar the son of Aaron died. They buried him in a hill belonging to Phinehas his son, which was given to him in the mountains of Ephraim.

Joshua 24:33 niv

And Eleazar son of Aaron died and was buried at Gibeah, which had been allotted to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim.

Joshua 24:33 esv

And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of Phinehas his son, which had been given him in the hill country of Ephraim.

Joshua 24:33 nlt

Eleazar son of Aaron also died. He was buried in the hill country of Ephraim, in the town of Gibeah, which had been given to his son Phinehas.

Joshua 24 verses

Joshua 24 33 Meaning

Joshua 24:33 records the deaths and burials of two significant figures: Eleazar, the high priest, and his son, Phinehas. Eleazar's death marks the passing of another leader from the Exodus generation, following Joshua. His burial in the hill country of Ephraim, on the land allotted to his son Phinehas, signifies the continued fulfillment of God's promise of land for the priestly family, ensuring their provision and establishment within Israel's territory. This verse serves as an epilogue to the book of Joshua, signifying the transition of leadership and the completion of the land's initial division, establishing the levitical Priesthood firmly in the land as per God's command.

Joshua 24 33 Context

Joshua 24 is a pivotal chapter, concluding the book of Joshua. It primarily records Joshua's final address to the people of Israel at Shechem, where he recounts God's faithfulness from Abraham to their current day, reminds them of the covenant, and challenges them to "choose this day whom you will serve." The people respond by renewing their commitment to serve the Lord. Verses 29-30 detail Joshua's death and burial. Verse 32 recounts the burial of Joseph's bones, fulfilling his dying request (Gen 50:25). Joshua 24:33, therefore, serves as the final epilogue, ensuring the deaths and burials of the high priest Eleazar and his son Phinehas are recorded, establishing their final resting places and confirming the orderly transition of the high priestly office. Historically, this marks the end of an era initiated by Moses and continued by Joshua, as Israel transitions into the period of the Judges, navigating the land and the covenant on their own with a settled Priesthood. This closing verse confirms the successful, though not entirely complete, establishment of the twelve tribes and the priestly family in the land as promised by God, serving as a subtle polemic against any notion that God's promises had failed; rather, they were being meticulously fulfilled, even down to the individual family's inheritance within the land.

Word Analysis

• And Eleazar: Eleazar (אֶלְעָזָר, El’azar), meaning "God has helped" or "God is helper." He was Aaron's third son and succeeded him as High Priest (Num 20:25-28). He served alongside Joshua in dividing the land (Num 34:17, Josh 14:1). His presence underscored the religious authority in Israel, demonstrating God's consistent provision for a priestly leadership from the lineage of Aaron. His death signifies the passing of a key leader of the original generation, one who bridged the wilderness and the settled land.

• the son of Aaron: Emphasizes his direct lineage from Aaron, the first High Priest. This validates his position and reinforces the divinely appointed line of the priesthood, essential for Israel's worship and covenant relationship with God. This detail links back to earlier laws regarding the Aaronic priesthood (Exo 29:9, Num 3:10).

• died: His death is the final in a trio of leadership transitions recorded at the end of Joshua (Joshua, Joseph's bones, Eleazar), emphasizing the end of a specific era and the reliance on God's continued faithfulness. It highlights the mortality of even divinely appointed leaders and the continuity of God's covenant through subsequent generations and institutions (like the priesthood).

• and they buried him: Indicates a formal, respectful burial, typical for revered leaders. This act confirms his belonging to the promised land and the community established therein. It is a peaceful conclusion to his faithful service.

• at Gibeah of Phinehas: Gibeah of Phinehas (גִּבְעַת פִּינְחָס, Gibʿat Pinchas), meaning "the hill of Phinehas." This is not just a random location but a named place connected to his son. It signifies a specific and permanent establishment within the tribal territories, grounding the priestly family within the physical land. This area was located in the hill country of Ephraim (Jos 16:5, 10). It highlights the land grant to the priests, even though Levites did not inherit a tribal portion, specific provisions were made for them (Num 35, Josh 21).

• which had been given to him: This refers to the land given specifically to Phinehas. While the Levites received cities to live in and pasturelands scattered throughout Israel, individual allotments within tribal territories, like this "hill," were less common but attested (Josh 21:19 states the Aaronite priests received 13 cities from Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin). The fact that Phinehas received a specific land inheritance in the hill country of Ephraim (his home tribe perhaps? or simply a significant family possession for the leading priestly family) indicates God's precise and personal care even for His special servants and their descendants, going beyond the general Levitical provisions. It might be seen as an additional inheritance or a specified "city with its pastureland" allotment for the High Priest's family. It firmly establishes the leading priestly line geographically within the heartland of Israel, preventing any claim that God's promises of land for all were incomplete.

• in the hill country of Ephraim: This region was centrally located and was also where Joshua was buried. Its strategic position further grounds the leadership figures within the core of the united tribes.

• Eleazar, the son of Aaron, died, and they buried him: This repetition or close phrasing from the initial statement functions as a comprehensive summary of his final earthly state. The placement of "the son of Aaron" right after Eleazar's name re-emphasizes his critical role and lineage in the succession.

• Gibeah of Phinehas, which had been given to him in the hill country of Ephraim: This phrase reinforces the precise location and its connection to Phinehas. It also subtly emphasizes the continuity of the priestly line (Phinehas as the next High Priest) and the fulfillment of God's provision. The naming of the place after Phinehas implies its lasting significance due to its association with a prominent and zealous priest (Num 25:7-13). It underscores God's blessing upon Phinehas for his zeal.

Joshua 24 33 Bonus section

The detailed recording of these three burials (Joshua, Joseph, Eleazar) within the same concluding section of Joshua (vv. 29-33) underscores a theme of transition and permanence. The physical resting places serve as silent, powerful witnesses to the fulfillment of God's land promises, confirming Israel's rightful, settled inheritance. This triplet of burials, often seen as a literary device, solidifies the transfer of leadership, the deep historical ties (Joseph's bones from Egypt), and the establishment of spiritual authority within the land, bringing a definitive close to the book and pointing to the era of Judges that follows. The mention of Phinehas's "hill" or "Gibeah" is notable as "Gibeah" often appears in biblical narratives as a place of tribal significance, sometimes unfortunately associated with dark deeds (e.g., in Benjamite territory during the Judges era). Here, however, its connection to Phinehas and the high priestly line establishes a positive and sanctified significance within Ephraim, ensuring a lasting memorial to Eleazar's family and his spiritual office.

Joshua 24 33 Commentary

Joshua 24:33 functions as a poignant final stroke in the grand narrative of God's faithfulness through the period of conquest and settlement. Following Joshua's farewell and death (v. 29), and the long-awaited burial of Joseph's bones (v. 32), the death of Eleazar, the high priest, signifies the definitive end of the generation that personally experienced the Exodus and initial settlement. Eleazar was a vital link, witnessing God's miracles, partaking in the wilderness wanderings, aiding in land distribution, and serving as the intermediary between God and His people in spiritual matters. His death marks a generational shift in leadership from prophetic/military (Joshua) to primarily spiritual (the high priest), setting the stage for the era of the Judges.

The mention of his burial "at Gibeah of Phinehas, which had been given to him in the hill country of Ephraim" is highly significant. It underlines several theological points: First, God's promise of land inheritance for His people, including provisions for the priestly class, is fulfilled to the letter (even for those who, like Levites, had no tribal land inheritance). While the general Levites received scattered cities (Josh 21), Phinehas, as a leading Aaronic priest and Eleazar's son, received a distinct portion, reinforcing God's detailed faithfulness and special provision for His devoted servants. This inheritance for Phinehas specifically might stem from his zealous act at Peor (Num 25:7-13), for which God granted him and his descendants "a covenant of a lasting priesthood." This burial plot serves as a tangible marker of this enduring promise. Second, the naming of the hill after Phinehas points to his enduring legacy as a zealous and faithful servant, ensuring his place in the historical memory and solidifying the legitimate claims of his descendants to the high priesthood. Third, the location in the "hill country of Ephraim," central to Israel, reinforces the concept of a settled nation with a deeply rooted spiritual authority, integral to its land and identity. This epilogue paints a complete picture of a mission accomplished—the land distributed, major leaders laid to rest within it, and the next generation's spiritual leadership secured. It sets the scene for a time where Israel must live out the covenant with the physical and spiritual infrastructure in place.