Joshua 19 describes the distribution of land among the remaining tribes of Israel. Simeon received its inheritance within Judah’s territory due to Judah’s larger portion. Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan each received their respective territories, with detailed city listings for each tribe.
The tribe of Dan, after losing control of its initial territory, conquered the city of Leshem and renamed it Dan. After all the land was divided, the Israelites gave Joshua the city of Timnath-serah in Ephraim, which he rebuilt and settled. The land was distributed by lot at Shiloh in the presence of the LORD, completing the allotment process.
When they had finished dividing up all the land, still one remained to receive his portion. Joshua waited patiently for his inheritance to be given as the Lord had promised. This ending to Joshua 19 strikes me as such a powerful example of humility. We see a similar theme in the Gospels.
Just as Joshua took a back seat to the tribes, Jesus humbled Himself before us.
“It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, [27] and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; [28] just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:26-28 CSB
I believe you can measure the confidence of a true leader by the humility characteristic alone. To a leader who has an accurate and measured understanding of their place and purpose, service will come naturally.
Joshua brings his whole nation to the glorious riches of the Promised Land and then proceeds to wait, in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, as each is given what they were told. We see no complaining or hurrying. We do not read of any kind of irritation or conflict. Joshua was content to wait for others even to receive his place of permanent residence. It’s a vital lesson for us today. I love these thoughts from the Preacher’s Homiletical Commentary…
“(King) Ahab, who brings his people to ruin, turns his face to the wall, like a sulky child, and will eat no bread, because he cannot get Naboth’s vineyard; Joshua, who brings the whole nation to rich possessions, waits, in the spirit of a true man, till others are satisfied, ere he thinks to ask even a home for himself.”
Preacher’s Homiletical Commentary