What does Judges 2:9 mean?

The death of Israel's great leaders often marked the start of a new era in the people's lives. Moses' death outside the Promised Land began—at long last—Israel's conquest of the land God had promised to His people so many years before. In much the same way, Joshua's death begins a new season in the history of Israel. Unfortunately, this is a season of Israel falling into sin, crying out for rescue, and being temporarily led by "judges" raised up by God (Judges 2:11–15).

Before that pattern begins, Joshua is buried in the territory of his own tribe Ephraim at 110 years old. Specifically, Joshua is laid to rest at Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. Bible scholars put Joshua's portion of the land about 15 miles, or 24 kilometers, southwest of Shechem, right in the heart of Israel.