(The Lord speaking is red text)
And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
and they buried him near the boundary of his property in Timnat-Heres, in the hills of Efrayim, north of Mount Ga'ash.
They buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath-heres in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill-country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.
And they buried{H6912} him in the border{H1366} of his inheritance{H5159} in Timnathheres{H8556}, in the mount{H2022} of Ephraim{H669}, on the north side{H6828} of the hill{H2022} Gaash{H1608}.
Judges 2:9, "And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash," is a verse that speaks to the burial place of Joshua, the successor to Moses, who led the Israelites into the Promised Land. The verse is set within the historical context of the period following the conquest of Canaan, as described in the Book of Joshua. It highlights several key themes:
1. **Inheritance and Legacy**: The mention of Joshua being buried within the "border of his inheritance" underscores the importance of the land and its division among the tribes of Israel, as commanded by God. Joshua's burial within his allotted inheritance signifies his connection to the land and the fulfillment of God's promises to the Israelites.
2. **Geographical Significance**: Timnathheres, located in the mount of Ephraim near the hill of Gaash, was part of the territory allocated to the tribe of Ephraim (Joshua 19:50, 24:30). This area was centrally located within the land of Canaan and held significance as the heartland of the Israelite tribal territories.
3. **Leadership Transition**: The burial of Joshua marks the end of an era and the transition from the generation that had witnessed the Exodus and the conquest to a new generation that would face the challenges of maintaining the land and their faith in God without the leadership of their great commander.
4. **Fulfillment of God's Promises**: The verse serves as a testament to God's faithfulness in bringing the Israelites into the land He had promised to their ancestors. Joshua's life and burial in this land are tangible evidence of these promises being fulfilled.
5. **Historical Bookending**: This verse is part of a narrative device that bookends the life of Joshua. It echoes the earlier account of his death and burial in Joshua 24:29-31, reinforcing the completion of his mission and the historical record of his time.
In summary, Judges 2:9 is not only a record of Joshua's burial place but also a symbolic statement about the fulfillment of God's promises, the importance of the land to the Israelites, and the transition of leadership in a new era for the nation of Israel. It emphasizes the centrality of Ephraim in the Israelite territories and serves as a historical marker within the broader narrative of the Israelites' journey from slavery to settlement in the Promised Land.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)