Jos 8:33-35 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Josh 8:33-35: 8:33-35 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 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.

a8:33-35►

dDeut 27–28►

fExod 12:38►

‏ Joshua 8:33-35

Summary for Josh 8:33-35: 8:33-35 ^a 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 ^b 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 ^c blessings ... curses: See Deut 27–28 ^d.
8:35 ^e 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 ^f, 48-49 ^g). These converts had accepted the Lord as their God and joined Israel when they saw the great things God had done for Israel.