Joshua 8:31

31 Moses, the Lord's servant, had commanded. Joshua built the altar as it was explained in the Book of the Teachings of Moses. It was made from uncut stones; no tool was ever used on them. On that altar the Israelites offered burnt offerings to the Lord and fellowship offerings.

Joshua 8:31 Meaning and Commentary

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
( Deuteronomy 27:5 ) ;

an altar of whole stones, on which no man hath lift up [any] iron;
(See Gill on Exodus 20:25), (See Gill on Deuteronomy 27:5), and, (See Gill on 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, ( Deuteronomy 27:6 Deuteronomy 27:7 ) .

Joshua 8:31 In-Context

29 Joshua hanged the king of Ai on a tree and left him there until evening. At sunset Joshua told his men to take the king's body down from the tree and to throw it down at the city gate. Then they covered it with a pile of rocks, which is still there today.

30 Joshua built an altar for the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal, as

31 Moses, the Lord's servant, had commanded. Joshua built the altar as it was explained in the Book of the Teachings of Moses. It was made from uncut stones; no tool was ever used on them. On that altar the Israelites offered burnt offerings to the Lord and fellowship offerings.

32 There Joshua wrote the teachings of Moses on stones for all the people of Israel to see.

33 The older leaders, officers, judges, and all the Israelites were there; Israelites and non-Israelites were all standing around the Ark of the Agreement with the Lord in front of the priests, the Levites who had carried the Ark. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Ebal, and half stood in front of Mount Gerizim. This was the way the Lord's servant Moses had earlier commanded the people to be blessed.