John Calvin Commentary Joshua 19:49

"So they made an end of distributing the land for inheritance by the borders thereof; and the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun in the midst of them:" — Joshua 19:49 (ASV)

When they had made an end of dividing, etc. Here, at last, we have an account of the people's gratitude towards Joshua. For although the division of the land of Canaan among the descendants of Abraham needed to be equitable, Joshua, by his excellent virtues, deserved some honorary reward.

Nor could anyone complain that a single individual was enriched at their expense. For, first, the delay was a striking proof of the moderation of this holy servant of God. He does not pay any attention to his own interest until the common good has been secured. How seldom do we find any who, after they have given one or two displays of valor, do not immediately rush to the prey?

Not so Joshua, who does not think of himself until the land has been divided. In the reward itself, the same temperance and frugality are also evident. The city he asks to be given to himself and his family was merely a heap of stones, either because it had been demolished and converted into a heap of ruins, or because no city had yet been built on it.

It is likely conjectured that, to make the grant as little resented as possible, the city he requested was of no great value. If anyone thinks it strange that he did not offer his labor without payment, let him reflect that Joshua liberally obeyed the divine call and had no mercenary feelings in enduring so many labors, dangers, and troubles. But having spontaneously performed his duty, he was not to reject a memorial of God's favor, unless he wished, through perverse contempt, to suppress His glory.

For the grant voted to him was nothing more than a simple testimonial of the divine power, which had been manifested through his hand. Truly, no ambition can be detected here, since he desires nothing for himself and does not act rashly from a feeling of covetousness, but seeks, through the people's consent, a confirmation of the honor which God had already bestowed upon him.

To have been silent in such a case would have been more indicative of heartlessness than of modesty. The statement in the concluding verse of the chapter, that Joshua and Eleazar made an end of dividing the land, points to the permanence of the boundaries that had been fixed, and warns the children of Israel against taking any action to unsettle an inviolable decree.