Joshua 8:31

31 This was exactly what Moses the LORD's servant had commanded the Israelites. It is what is written in the Instruction scroll from Moses: "an altar of crude stones against which no iron tool has swung." On it they offered entirely burned offerings to the LORD and sacrificed well-being 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 hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening. At sundown, Joshua gave an order, and they took his body down from the tree. They threw it down at the opening of the city gate. Then they raised over it a great pile of stones that is still there today.

30 Then Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal to the LORD, the God of Israel.

31 This was exactly what Moses the LORD's servant had commanded the Israelites. It is what is written in the Instruction scroll from Moses: "an altar of crude stones against which no iron tool has swung." On it they offered entirely burned offerings to the LORD and sacrificed well-being offerings.

32 There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on the stones a copy of the Instruction from Moses, which Moses had written earlier.

33 All Israel—with its elders, officers, and judges—were standing on either side of the chest. They were facing the levitical priests who carry the LORD's chest containing the covenant. They included both immigrants and full citizens. Half stood facing Mount Gerizim and half stood facing Mount Ebal. This was exactly what Moses the LORD's servant had initially commanded for the blessing of the Israelite people.

Footnotes

• [a]. Deut 27:5–6