What was Timnath-serah?

Timnath-serah (Hebrew: תִּמְנַת סֶרַח, Timnat Serah) was a town in the hill country of Ephraim that was given to Joshua as his personal inheritance after the division of the Promised Land. The name is believed to mean either “portion of abundance” or “extra portion,” reflecting its association with Joshua, who received it as a reward for his faithful service to God and Israel (Joshua 19:50).

This location is mentioned several times in Scripture, primarily as the site where Joshua settled and was later buried. It stands as a symbol of God‘s faithfulness in rewarding His servants and fulfilling His promises.

Biblical References

• Joshua 19:49-50 – Timnath-serah was given to Joshua as his inheritance.

• Joshua 24:30 – Joshua was buried there after his death.

• Judges 2:9 – Another mention of Joshua’s burial in Timnath-heres, considered a variant of Timnath-serah.

Cross-References:

• Deuteronomy 1:36-38 – Caleb and Joshua are highlighted as faithful spies.

• Numbers 14:30 – The promise that only Joshua and Caleb would enter the Promised Land.

• Joshua 14:6-15 – Caleb receives Hebron, paralleling Joshua’s inheritance of Timnath-serah.

What Happened in the Bible?

After the conquest of Canaan and the division of the land among the twelve tribes, the people of Israel gave Joshua, the servant of the Lord and leader of the conquest, the city of Timnath-serah as his personal inheritance (Joshua 19:49-50). This city was located in the hill country of Ephraim, the tribe to which Joshua belonged.

Joshua rebuilt the city and made it his home. It became not only his dwelling place but also his burial place when he died at the age of 110 (Joshua 24:29-30). The passage in Judges 2:9 refers to the same location, though it is named there as Timnath-heres, which many scholars agree is either a variant name or a scribal variation with the same meaning. Some interpret heres (“sun”) as symbolic of the end of Joshua’s life and leadership.

What It Means for Today’s Christians

Timnath-serah stands as a reminder that God remembers and rewards faithfulness. Joshua had served faithfully from Egypt to Canaan, and at the end of his life, he was honored with a personal inheritance in the land he helped conquer. This points to the biblical principle that those who remain steadfast in serving God will receive their reward—not necessarily in earthly wealth, but in the joy of pleasing the Lord and ultimately in eternal life.

Christians today can find encouragement in Joshua’s example. Faithful obedience, even in difficult circumstances, is not overlooked by God. Just as Joshua’s reward came at the end of a life of service, believers are reminded to live for a reward that is “kept in heaven” (1 Peter 1:4).

How Timnath-serah Points to Jesus and the Gospel

Timnath-serah, as Joshua’s reward and resting place, foreshadows the eternal inheritance secured for all believers through Jesus Christ. Joshua, whose name in Hebrew (Yehoshua) is the same as Jesus (Yeshua), serves as a type or foreshadowing of Christ.

Just as Joshua led the people into the Promised Land and received a personal inheritance, Jesus leads His people into the ultimate promised inheritance—eternal life in the kingdom of God (Hebrews 4:8-10). Jesus, unlike Joshua, does not simply receive an inheritance but shares it with His people (Romans 8:17).

The burial of Joshua in Timnath-serah marks the end of one era, but it also anticipates the resurrection hope. Unlike Joshua, Jesus rose from the grave, securing for His people a living hope and an inheritance that “can never perish, spoil or fade” (1 Peter 1:4).

Broader Biblical Themes

God’s Reward for Faithfulness

Joshua’s reception of Timnath-serah underscores the biblical pattern of God rewarding those who walk faithfully with Him (Hebrews 11:6; Revelation 22:12).

The Promised Land as a Foreshadow of Heaven

The conquest and settlement of the Promised Land point forward to the greater rest found in Christ (Hebrews 4:1-11). Timnath-serah is a symbol of that fulfilled promise.

Leadership Rooted in Obedience

Joshua led Israel not through ambition but through obedience and submission to God’s Word. His quiet retirement to Timnath-serah contrasts with worldly models of leadership that seek self-exaltation.

Death and Hope

Joshua’s burial in Timnath-serah reminds readers that even the greatest leaders die, but God’s purposes endure. For Christians, death is not the end but a transition into the inheritance Christ has prepared.

Reflection Questions

1. What does Joshua’s quiet inheritance in Timnath-serah teach us about the reward for faithful service?

2. In what ways does Joshua’s life—and his reward—point us to Jesus?

3. Are we more focused on earthly rewards or on the eternal inheritance promised in Christ?

4. How can we model Joshua’s leadership in our own spheres of influence?

5. What areas of life require greater trust and faithfulness as we wait on God’s promises?

Timnath-serah may appear to be a minor place in biblical geography, but it carries rich meaning when seen in the context of Joshua’s life, God’s faithfulness, and the greater story of redemption. Through this quiet city in the hill country of Ephraim, we are reminded that our true reward is found in serving God with steadfast hearts, trusting Him to bring us into the fullness of our inheritance in Christ.