Joshua 19:50

50 They did what the LORD had commanded them to do. They gave Joshua the town he asked for. It was Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He built up the town and settled down there.

Joshua 19:50 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 19:50

According to the word of the Lord
Or mouth of the Lord; either according to the oracle of Urim and Thummim, which Eleazar consulted on this occasion; or according to what the Lord had said to Moses, at the same time that Hebron was ordered to Caleb, ( Joshua 14:6 ) ; and

they gave him the city which he asked, [even] Timnathserah in Mount
Ephraim;
he chose a place in his own tribe, for he was of the tribe of Ephraim; and it seems that what he chose was none of the best of places; for Paula, as Jerom ^F9 relates, when she travelled into those parts, wondered that the distributor of the possessions of the children of Israel should choose such a rough and mountainous place for himself; of its situation, see ( Joshua 24:30 ) ;

and he built the city, and dwelt therein;
he rebuilt it, and fitted it for his own habitation, and for those that belonged to him.

(Timnathserah means "an abundant portion" or "a place in the sun". Joshua great reward was in seeing the promises of God fulfilled before his very eyes ( Joshua 21:45 ) ( 23:14 ) and the children of Israel serving the Lord's during his lifetime ( Joshua 24:31 ) . Joshua may have received but a small inheritance in the promised land but this was just an earnest of his future glorious inheritance in eternity. The saints of God have the best portion saved for the last ( John 2:10 ) whereas the worldling has his best portion now; his worst is yet to come. Editor.)

---

FOOTNOTES:

F9 Epitaph. Paulae, fol. 59. L.

Joshua 19:50 In-Context

48 All of those towns and their villages were the share the tribe of Dan received, family group by family group.

49 The people of Israel finished dividing up the shares of land the tribes received. Then they gave a share to Joshua, the son of Nun.

50 They did what the LORD had commanded them to do. They gave Joshua the town he asked for. It was Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He built up the town and settled down there.

51 All of those territories were given out by using lots at Shiloh. The lots were drawn out by the priest Eleazar and by Joshua, the son of Nun. The leaders of the tribes of Israel helped them. The lots were drawn out in front of the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So the work of dividing up the land was finished.