Joshua 8:31

31 just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool has been used.” ^[a] And on it they offered burnt offerings to the LORD, and they sacrificed peace 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 He hung the king of Ai on a tree until evening, and at sunset Joshua commanded that they take down the body from the tree and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And over it they raised a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day.

30 At that time Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal to the LORD, the God of Israel,

31 just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool has been used.” And on it they offered burnt offerings to the LORD, and they sacrificed peace offerings.

32 And there in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua inscribed on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written.

33 All Israel, foreigners and citizens alike, with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the LORD facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded earlier, to bless the people of Israel.

Footnotes

• [a]. Exodus 20:25; Deuteronomy 27:5