31 Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the Lorddid for Israel.
32 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.
33 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)
As Joshua passes off the scene, there is a mixed sense of satisfaction and anticipation. First, there is the anticipation of who and what will come next. When Moses had died, it was spelled out who the next leader would be, but when Joshua dies, and his co-leaders fade away, what will become of Israel? There is this anticipated "but" when we are told that Israel was faithful to God as long as these men lived. But what about after them? Secondly, there is a sense of satisfaction when we read that Joshua finally gets his proper burial in Canaan, hundreds of years after he had requested it at the end of Genesis. His bones became a memorial to God's faithfulness over time. Finally, there is yet another sense of anticipation, as Eleazar - the priestly leader, passes off the scene as well. What will become of the spiritual life of Israel? It all makes for a good read - which of course God intends for us to do: Read His story; ask questions; search for answers; stand in awe of His wisdom and plan. Read on.
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