יהושע, פרק כ״ד, פסוק ל״א

The passing of a great leader often brings uncertainty about a nation's spiritual future. However, the period following the death of Joshua was marked by unusual stability. The presence of a leadership team that had personally experienced God's great miracles served as a spiritual anchor, keeping the people completely faithful to Him throughout that entire generation. This leadership structure encompassed the judges, officers, and the entire governing body of the nation at that time [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

These leaders are identified specifically as the generation that came out of Egypt, as they were the only ones who possessed firsthand knowledge of those historic events [רלב"ג]. Because they had witnessed God's miracles for the Israelites with their own eyes, they were uniquely equipped to guide the nation on the right path and inspire them to serve God properly [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל].

Regarding the exact length of this period of stable leadership, different viewpoints emerge. One perspective calculates this era as lasting twenty-eight years, starting from the day Joshua first assumed leadership [מצודת דוד]. In contrast, another approach notes that while these leaders lived for a prolonged number of days, they did not actually live for many years. Their time was ultimately cut short as a result of a punishment they received [רש"י].