Joshua 24:32
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just about burying bones; it's the final, tangible fulfillment of a promise made by Joseph in Egypt centuries earlier. The detail of Jacob's original purchase of the land for a hundred pieces of silver anchors this act in a history stretching back to the patriarchs, showing that God's promises, even across generations and great distances, are meticulously kept.
Right after Joshua establishes a covenant with the people at Shechem and commissions them to obey God, the narrative shifts to note the deaths and burials of Joshua, Eleazar, and finally, the bones of Joseph. This specific burial of Joseph's remains in the land they fought for fulfills a promise made generations earlier, marking the completion of God's faithfulness to His people.
Imagine carrying a promise for over 400 years! The Israelites didn't just physically transport Joseph's bones; they carried a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness.
A Testament to God's Word
Joseph, before he died in Egypt, made the Israelites swear to carry his bones out of the land when God brought them to the Promised Land (Genesis 50:25). For centuries, his mummified remains were an honored, yet burdensome, possession, moved with them through the wilderness and into Canaan.
This act wasn't just about honoring a beloved patriarch. It was a tangible, living testament to God's promise to bring them into the land He had sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Every step they took with Joseph's bones was a step of faith, anticipating the day they would finally 'rest' in the land.
Timing is Everything
Joshua 24:32 records the burial of Joseph's bones in Shechem. While the exact timing is debated, it's clear it happened after they had settled in the land and the tribe of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) had received their inheritance. This fulfilling of Joseph's dying wish, after so many generations, powerfully underlines the enduring nature of God's promises and His people's responsibility to keep His word.
Why Shechem? This ancient city wasn't just any plot of land; it was a place steeped in history, faith, and divine transaction.
Jacob's Purchase, Joseph's Legacy
The land where Joseph's bones were buried was not taken by force. It was a piece of ground that Jacob himself had purchased from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem (Genesis 33:19). This act, long before the Israelites entered Canaan, signifies God's prior claim and provision for His people.
Jacob's purchase, for 'a hundred pieces of silver' (likely a specific weight of silver, possibly even shaped like lambs), established a rightful inheritance. This very land then became the designated inheritance for Joseph's descendants, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Burying Joseph here wasn't just returning him to his family; it was consecrating the inheritance promised by God.
Understand the original words
nachalah · Hebrew Noun
Biblically, an inheritance is a portion of land or possession given as a permanent gift, often linked to the promise made to the patriarchs regarding the Promised Land. It signifies a secure, enduring, and God-ordained possession.
The burial of Joseph's bones in Shechem, as recorded here, brings the entire saga of the Israelites' journey full circle, fulfilling a promise made generations earlier and solidifying their inheritance in the land.
c. 1450 BC
Joseph's Death in Egypt
Joseph, a key figure in the Israelites' presence in Egypt, died, but he commanded his people to carry his bones with them when they eventually left the land.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
Under Moses' leadership, the Israelites left Egypt, fulfilling Joseph's dying wish by carrying his bones with them during their 40-year journey in the wilderness.
c. 1406 BC
Jacob's Purchase at Shechem
Before the Exodus, Jacob purchased a parcel of land near Shechem from the sons of Hamor, setting aside this land for his descendants.
c. 1406 BC
Israelites Enter the Promised Land
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and began the conquest of Canaan, eventually settling the land.
c. 1405 BC
This passage highlights Joseph's dying command to his people to carry his bones out of Egypt, directly setting the stage for the event described in Joshua 24:32.
Exodus 13:19This verse recounts the Israelites taking Joseph's bones with them as they left Egypt, showing the physical act of fulfilling Joseph's request and linking it to God's deliverance.
Acts 7:16Stephen's speech recounts the history of Israel, mentioning Joseph's bones being carried from Egypt and laid in a tomb at Shechem, offering a New Testament perspective on this event.
Genesis 33:19This verse details Jacob's purchase of the field at Shechem where Joseph's bones were eventually buried, showing the original acquisition of the land by Joseph's father.
Joshua 24:15This verse, spoken just before the burial of Joseph's bones and the end of Joshua's life, calls the people to choose whom they will serve, creating a thematic link between faithfulness and the legacy of their forefathers like Joseph.
jfbJoshua 24:32: "And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph."
- the bones of Joseph—They had carried these venerable relics with them in all their migrations through the desert, and deferred the burial, according to the dying charge of Joseph himself, till they arri…
calvinJoshua 24:25-33: "So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem."
And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it has heard all the words of the LORD which he spoke unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest you deny your God.
Dixitque Josue ad universum populum, En lapis iste erit nobis in testimonium: ipse enim audivit omnia verba Jehovae quae loquutus est nobiscum, eritqu…
This verse isn't just about burying bones; it's the final, tangible fulfillment of a promise made by Joseph in Egypt centuries earlier. The detail of Jacob's original purchase of the land for a hundred pieces of silver anchors this act in a history stretching back to the patriarchs, showing that God's promises, even across generations and great distances, are meticulously kept.
Right after Joshua establishes a covenant with the people at Shechem and commissions them to obey God, the narrative shifts to note the deaths and burials of Joshua, Eleazar, and finally, the bones of Joseph. This specific burial of Joseph's remains in the land they fought for fulfills a promise made generations earlier, marking the completion of God's faithfulness to His people.
Right after Joshua establishes a covenant with the people at Shechem and commissions them to obey God, the narrative shifts to note the deaths and burials of Joshua, Eleazar, and finally, the bones of Joseph. This specific burial of Joseph's remains in the land they fought for fulfills a promise made generations earlier, marking the completion of God's faithfulness to His people.
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Division of the Land
The land of Canaan was divided among the twelve tribes of Israel, with the territory of Ephraim, descended from Joseph, being allocated a significant portion.
c. 1385 BC— this verse
Joshua's Covenant and Death
Joshua convenes the tribes at Shechem for a final covenant renewal, and shortly after his death and burial, the Israelites bury Joseph's bones in the land Jacob purchased.
"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 inhe…" — This verse isn't just about burying bones; it's the final, tangible fulfillment of a promise made by Joseph in Egypt centuries earlier. The detail of Jacob's original purchase of the land for a hundr…
