Some years before, God reminded Joshua of his advancing age. “Thou art old and stricken in years,” He had declared (ch. 13:1). Now Joshua himself felt the effect of age and the passing of time and himself declared, “I am old and stricken in age,” literally, “I am old I have entered into the days.” He was probably in his last year, that is, in his 110th year (ch. 24:29).

Those summoned represented the four levels, or degrees, of civil distinction: the elders or princes of the tribes, the heads or chiefs of families, the judges who interpreted and made decisions according to the law, the officers or magistrates who executed the decisions of the judges. Eleazar the high priest was there, and Phinehas his son; doubtless Caleb was there in his ripe old age, and perhaps Othniel and many others.

 The place of this meeting is not specified, but inasmuch as Shechem is mentioned in the next chapter (v. 1), as the place for the second meeting, it has been thought that the place for the first meeting was Timnath-serah, the home of Joshua. However, it may have been at Shechem, as well, or even some other place, like Shiloh.