Joshua 8:31

_AS MOSES THE SERVANT OF THE LORD COMMANDED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW OF MOSES, AN ALTAR OF WHOLE STONES, OVER WHICH NO MAN HATH LIFT UP ANY IRON: AND THEY OFFERED THEREON BURNT OFFERINGS UNTO THE LORD, AND SACRIFICED PEACE OFFERINGS._ Of whole stones - according to the instructions given to Moses (Exodus 20:25; Deuteronomy 27:5). OVER WHICH NO MAN HATH LIFT UP ANY IRON - i:e., iron tool. The reason of this was, that every altar of the true God ought properly to have been built of earth (Exodus 20:24); and if it was constructed of stone, rough unhewn stones were to be employed. that it might retain both the appearance and nature of earth, since ever

30-35 As soon as Joshua got to the mountains Ebal and Gerizim, without delay, and without caring for the unsettled state of Israel, or their enemies, he confirmed the covenant of the Lord with his people, as appointed, Joshua 8:11; Joshua 8:27. We must not think to defer covenanting with God till we are settled in the world; nor must any business put us from minding and pursuing the one thing needful. The way to prosper is to begin with God, Matthew 6:33. They built an altar, and offered sacrifice to God, in token of their dedicating themselves to God, as living sacrifices to his honour, in and by a Mediator. By Christ's sacrifice of himself for us, we have peace with God. It is a great mercy to any people to have the law of God in writi...

The account of this solemnity is very brief. An acquaintance with Deuteronomy 27 is evidently presupposed; and the three several acts of which the solemnity consisted are only so far distinctly named as is necessary to show that the commands of Moses there given were fully carried out by Joshua. It is difficult to escape the conviction that these verses are here out of their proper and original place. The connection between Joshua 8:29, and Joshua 9:1, is natural and obvious; and in Joshua 9:3, the fraud of the Gibeonites is represented as growing out of the alarm caused by the fall of Jericho and

EXPOSITION THE COPY OF THE LAW.— JOSHUA 8:30 THEN JOSHUA BUILT AN ALTAR UNTO THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL IN MOUNT EBAL. This passage has been pronounced to be an interpolation by Meyer, De Wette, Maurer, Rosenmuller, Knobel, and others. The LXX. does not introduce it here, but after Joshua 9:2. For other authorities see below. It is very easy to see why its genuineness has been disputed. The Book of Joshua has many marks of having been written not so very long after the events described in it. But it has been a favourite opinion with the school which disputes the authenticity of the books of the Bible, that Deuteronomy was a late revision by Ezra of the law of M

AS MOSES THE SERVANT OF THE LORD COMMANDED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW OF MOSES,.... Deuteronomy 27:5; AN ALTAR OF WHOLE STONES, ON WHICH NO MAN HATH LIFT UP [ANY] IRON; Exodus 20:25, Deuteronomy 27:5, and, Deuteronomy 27:6: AND THEY OFFERED THEREON BURNT OFFERINGS UNTO THE LORD, AND SACRIFICED PEACE OFFERINGS; by way of thanksgiving for the good land they were introduced into, and this was what they were ordered to do by Moses,...

8. THE OVERTHROW OF AI CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The advance commanded (Joshua 8:1)_ 2. The strategy of Joshua (Joshua 8:3) 3. Ai's defeat (Joshua 8:14) 4. Joshua's obedience (Joshua 8:30) Sin confessed, judged and put away restored communion with the Lord. If any burden remained upon the mind of Joshua, it was removed by the repeated words of comfort and cheer. “Fear not, neither be thou dismayed.” The failure is no longer mentioned, but instead, comfort and assurance is given and victory promised. He deals in the same gracious way with us, whenever we have failed and humbled ourselves before Him in self-judgment. H

ALTAR ERECTED ON EBAL, THE LAW INSCRIBED AND READ. This comes in a strange place. The middle of Canaan has not yet been conquered, so that such a proceeding was impossible if our narrative is complete. On this account most scholars take it that Joshua 8:30 is the end of an account which narrated the conquest of the middle of the country, and that for some reason or other the editor omitted it. The passage is Deuteronomic, and the objection that it violates the law of the single sanctuary rests on a misconception. According to the Deuteronomic view, the single sanctuary was to be set up when Yahweh hath given you rest from your enemies round about. This refers to the reign of Solomon: until then a multiplicity of altars was regarded as legitimate, as is seen from the fact that Samuel is not considered to have done wrong by sacrificing at various places, while the kings and people who did...

MOSES THE SERVANT OF THE LORD. See note on Deuteronomy 34:5. CHILDREN. sons. AS. according as. BOOK OF THE LAW. See note on Exodus 17:14; Exodus 24:4. and App-47. So that Joshua had. copy of Deuteronomy. WHOLE STONES. Compare Exodus 20:25.Deuteronomy 27:5....

The Altar of Blessing and of Cursing 30. _Then Joshua built_ The passes being now secured, and the interior of the country rendered accessible, Joshua resolved to take advantage of the terror which the success of his arms had inspired in the hearts of the Canaanites, and to carry out the command of Moses respecting the ratification of the Law with solemn ceremonies (Deuteronomy 27:2-8). By a grand national act it was to be declared "in what character Israel meant to hold what it had received of God." This act was to consist of three parts: (_a_) The Law was to be inscribed on "great stones" (Deuteronomy 27:2) which had been "plaistered with plaister;" and these as Memorial Stones were to be set up on "mount Ebal" ...

_VER._ 31. _AND THEY OFFERED THEREON BURNT-OFFERINGS,_ &C.— They renewed for the third time the covenant with God, as has been elsewhere observed. See on Deuteronomy 27:10....