Joshua Renews the Covenant. And there, in the presence of the sons of Israel, Joshua wrote on the stones a copy of the Law of Moses which Moses had written. Jos 8:32
INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT
INTRODUCTION
Though there are evident traces of the hand of an editing scribe, probably Ezra, there are many indications that the substance of this book was written while the events were still recent. There is therefore no good reason for doubting that the book in its original form was written by Joshua, as Jewish tradition alleges.
This book is to the Old Testament what the Acts of the Apostles is to the New. The name “Joshua” is equivalent to Jesus, and means “he shall save,” Heb_4:8. The Jericho of the early Church was Jerusalem, which they compassed through ten days of prayer as Israel compassed Jericho in seven days of marching. At Pentecost the walls of prejudice fell flat. Ananias and Sapphira were the Achan of the first days. The victories of the Church at Samaria, Antioch and elsewhere recall the conquests of Joshua. And the failure of the Church to go forward to the conquest of the nations finds a bitter parallel in the story of Israel’s apathy toward driving out the Canaanites.
Possessing the Promised Land
II. THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN, Joshua 6-12
3. Confirmation of the Covenant at Ebal and Gerizim, Jos_8:30-35; Jos_9:1-27
15. How were the conquerors now reminded that they themselves must obey God’s laws?
JOSHUA RENEWS THE COVENANT
Then Joshua built an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal,
just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, an altar of uncut stones on which no one has wielded an iron tool; and they offered on it burnt offerings to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.
And there, in the presence of the sons of Israel, Joshua wrote on the stones a copy of the Law of Moses which Moses had written.
All Israel, the stranger as well as the native born [among them], with their elders and officers and their judges, stood on either side of the ark before the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD. Half of them stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded at first to bless the people of Israel.
Then afterward Joshua read all the words of the law, the blessing and curse, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law.
There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before the entire assembly of Israel, including the women and the children and the foreigners who were living among them.
Comments by
F.B.Meyer
On
Joshua 8:30-35
RECORDING AND READING THE LAW
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,” Deu_27:15. Ebal was for the curse. It was appropriate that the altar should be there, Gal_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, Rom_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, Heb_8:10.
In the hour of completest triumph we need to stand before the Lord! It was in this spot that the incident of Joh_4:1-54 took place. Jesus transformed it into a valley of blessing!
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