Joshua 19:50

50 by the command of God, and they gave him the city which he asked for, Thamnasarach, which is in the mount of Ephraim; and he built the city, and dwelt in it.

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.)

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FOOTNOTES:

F9 Epitaph. Paulae, fol. 59. L.

Joshua 19:50 In-Context

48 And the sons of Dan went and fought against Lachis, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword; and they dwelt in it, and called the name of it Lasendan: and the Amorite continued to dwell in Edom and in Salamin: and the hand of Ephraim prevailed against them, and they became tribute to them.

49 And they proceeded to take possession of the land according to their borders, and the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Naue among them,

50 by the command of God, and they gave him the city which he asked for, Thamnasarach, which is in the mount of Ephraim; and he built the city, and dwelt in it.

51 These the divisions which Eleazar the priest divided by lot, and Joshua the of Naue, and the heads of families among the tribes of Israel, according to the lots, in Selo before the Lord by the doors of the tabernacle of testimony, and they went to take possession of the land.