And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.
Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God - registered the engagements of that solemn covenant in the book of sacred history.
Took a great stone - according to the usage of ancient times to erect stone pillars as monuments of public transactions.
Set it up ... under an oak - Hebrew, the oak, or terebinth; in all likelihood the same as that where Abraham had worshipped (Genesis 12:6), and at the root of which Jacob buried the idols and charms found in his family (Genesis 35:4: cf. Joshua 12:4, Allon-moreh, oak of Moreh or Shechem).
That was by the sanctuary of the Lord - either the spot where the ark had stood, or else the place around, so called from Joshua's religious meeting, as Jacob named Beth-el, the house of God. It is probable that this monolith lies buried on the spot where it was reared, and that the purpose of its erection was to perpetuate the knowledge of the law; that the Decalogue, with this view, was engraven upon it in deep and lasting characters. Could that be found and read, what important information might it afford. Accordingly search for it is specified among the objects enumerated in the prospectus issued by the Council of the Palestine Exploration Society.