Joshua 8:30-35
Summary for Josh 8:30-31: 8:30-31 a Archaeologists have recently discovered an altar ... on Mount Ebal built of uncut stones and not shaped with iron tools. However, no inscription was found with it (8:32 b).• Burnt offerings and peace offerings were prescribed in the laws of sacrifice that God gave Moses while Israel was still at Mount Sinai (Lev 1 c, 3 d). Moses gave specific commands for this ceremony (see Deut 11:26-32 e; 27:1–28:68 f).
8:32 g Joshua fulfilled Moses’ command to set up stones and coat them with plaster (Deut 27:2-8 h). After the plaster hardened, the instructions (Hebrew torah) would permanently be on public display at the first location where Israel formally worshiped the Lord after entering the land. The public display of laws occurred in other places; the best-known example is the famous Code of Hammurabi, which that king set up in Babylon.
Summary for Josh 8:33-35: 8:33-35 i This ceremony marked the formal possession of the land, even though major campaigns against the Canaanites were still to come. The ritual of sacrifice and reading of the law highlighted the promises and obligations of God’s covenant with them and anticipated the eventual possession of all of Canaan. 8:33 j The town of Shechem, located between Mount Gerizim to the south and Mount Ebal to the north, guarded the pass between the two mountains. Although the covenant renewal ceremony took place at Shechem, neither Joshua nor Judges records that Israel conquered the town.
• With every Israelite involved and the Ark positioned in the valley between the two groups, this ceremony was a promise to keep the covenant God had made with Israel at Sinai.
8:34 k blessings ... curses: See Deut 27–28 l.
8:35 m Old Testament religion was not just for the men of Israel; the entire assembly included the women and children.
• The foreigners who lived among the Israelites included people who came out of Egypt with Israel in the Exodus (Exod 12:38 n, 48-49 o). These converts had accepted the Lord as their God and joined Israel when they saw the great things God had done for Israel.
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