Joshua 24:28 reminds us that God’s promises lead His people to their rightful inheritance.
Joshua, who lived approximately between 1450 BC to 1370 BC, was the divinely chosen leader of Israel after Moses’ death, guiding the people into the Promised Land. As the successor to Moses, Joshua oversaw the conquest and distribution of this land among the tribes. In Joshua 24, he gathers the nation at Shechem—a significant city located between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim in the central hill country of the region that is now the northern West Bank—to renew their covenant with the LORD. Therefore, with the covenant reaffirmed, the people confirm their dedication to serving the LORD alone.
After this solemn gathering, the text says, “Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his inheritance.” (v.28) This succinct statement reveals that once the covenant was reconfirmed, Joshua dissolved the assembly, sending everyone away to the land that had been allocated to their tribe and family. Each inheritance represented both a divine promise kept and a personal responsibility to steward the resources of God faithfully. Ending this ceremony in Shechem—long regarded as a sacred place in Israel’s history—reinforces the communal dedication to God’s commands, as well as the unity of Israel under the leadership of Joshua.
The act of returning to their inheritance also foreshadows a collective need to walk in covenant faithfulness, an idea that recurs in later biblical texts calling God’s people to remember and uphold His statutes (see Deuteronomy 6:4-9). This moment highlights Joshua’s role in solidifying Israel’s identity in the land, while simultaneously reminding them that each tribe and household bears a personal stake in their relationship with God. Through trust in the LORD and obedience to His commandments, the people would find blessing, much like believers in Christ later find eternal inheritance through faith (Ephesians 1:11).
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Joshua 24:28 meaning
Joshua, who lived approximately between 1450 BC to 1370 BC, was the divinely chosen leader of Israel after Moses’ death, guiding the people into the Promised Land. As the successor to Moses, Joshua oversaw the conquest and distribution of this land among the tribes. In Joshua 24, he gathers the nation at Shechem—a significant city located between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim in the central hill country of the region that is now the northern West Bank—to renew their covenant with the LORD. Therefore, with the covenant reaffirmed, the people confirm their dedication to serving the LORD alone.
After this solemn gathering, the text says, “Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his inheritance.” (v.28) This succinct statement reveals that once the covenant was reconfirmed, Joshua dissolved the assembly, sending everyone away to the land that had been allocated to their tribe and family. Each inheritance represented both a divine promise kept and a personal responsibility to steward the resources of God faithfully. Ending this ceremony in Shechem—long regarded as a sacred place in Israel’s history—reinforces the communal dedication to God’s commands, as well as the unity of Israel under the leadership of Joshua.
The act of returning to their inheritance also foreshadows a collective need to walk in covenant faithfulness, an idea that recurs in later biblical texts calling God’s people to remember and uphold His statutes (see Deuteronomy 6:4-9). This moment highlights Joshua’s role in solidifying Israel’s identity in the land, while simultaneously reminding them that each tribe and household bears a personal stake in their relationship with God. Through trust in the LORD and obedience to His commandments, the people would find blessing, much like believers in Christ later find eternal inheritance through faith (Ephesians 1:11).