Joshua 24:29-31
‘Joshua the…servant of the Lord, died — being 110 years old…. They buried him on the border of his inheritance…. Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the Elders that outlived Joshua and which had known all the works of the Lord that He had done.’ Joshua 24:29-31.
With the renewal of the covenant, Joshua had ended his vocation. He did not formally lay down his Office, because there was no immediate successor who had been appointed by God. The ordinary Rulers of the congregation were enough, when once they were settled in Canaan — viz. the Elders as Heads and Judges.
In order therefore to bring the history of Joshua and his times to a close, nothing further remained than to give an account of his death. Joshua died, at the age of 110 — like his ancestor Joseph (Genesis 50:26).
Joshua’s labours had not remained without effect. During his own lifetime and that of the Elders who outlived him and who had seen all that the Lord did for Israel, all that people served the Lord. With the death of Eleazar the high priest, the contemporary of Joshua, the times of Joshua came to a close.
Calvin comments: “The honour of sepulture was a mark of reverence, which of itself bore testimony to the affectionate regard of the people…. The title by which Joshua is distinguished after his death, when he is called ‘the servant of the Lord’ — took away all excuse from those…abandoned men….
“They served the Lord while Joshua survived, and till the more aged (Elders) had died out…. In the present day also, when God furnishes any of His servants with distinguished and excellent gifts — their authority protects and preserves the order and state of the Church. But when they are dead…, impiety breaks forth.”
The last words of Joshua were not remarkable in themselves. They were: a succinct summary of past history; a stern warning against backsliding; and the posing of a definite choice between continuing to serve the Lord — or a backsliding into idolatry.
Joshua had no history of others to read. Instead, he just went right ahead, and made his own history!
This leader was buried in Timnath-serah, which is in Mount Ephraim. His grave, like that of Moses, no man has yet found.
Joshua died and was buried, when 110. Then he went straight to Heaven! You too?
