Joshua 8:30-35 - Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

Recording and Reading the Law

Joshua 8:30-35

After the fall of Ai the war was suspended for a time. The divine hand restrained the Canaanites from interfering with Israel's obedience to the Mosaic code. The whole nation was marshaled in the valley between Ebal and Gerizim, to hear the Law recited and to respond with the thunder of their “Amen,” Deuteronomy 27:15. Ebal was for the curse. It was appropriate that the altar should be there, Galatians 3:13.

Remember that even when we enter the land of rest, through faith in Jesus, we cannot get away from God's holy Law; nay, it is even more perfectly fulfilled as we walk after the Spirit, Romans 8:1-4. Let us go further and ask that, as the Law was written on those mighty stones, so it may be engraven on the tablets of our hearts, Hebrews 8:10.

In the hour of completest triumph we need to stand before the Lord! It was in this spot that the incident of John 4:1-54 took place. Jesus transformed it into a valley of blessing!

Related Commentaries of Joshua 8:30

Joshua 8:30-35

30 Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,

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, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.

32 And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.

33 And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.

34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.

35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.