Joshua 8:30-35

The Altar Erected on Mount Ebal 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 thereupon 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.

18.

When had Joshua been commanded to build the altar at Ebal? Joshua 8:31

Joshua was instructed of Moses in Deuteronomy 27, that, after the crossing of the Jordan, he was to build an altar upon Mount Ebal for establishing the covenant. The fulfillment of these instructions came in this solemn act. The symbolical setting up of the law of the Lord to be the invariable rule of life to the people of Israel in the land of Canaan was a practical expression of thanksgiving on the part of the nation for its entrance into this land through the almighty assistance of God. It was also a practical acknowledgement that in the overthrow of the Canaanites thus far the nation had received a strong pledge of the conquest of the foes that still remained. The capture of the whole of the Promised Land would follow if they persevered in faithfulness to the Lord.

19.

What is the meaning of. he wrote in the presence? Joshua 8:32

The law was probably written on or in the plaster with which these pillars were coated. This could easily be done, and such writing was common in ancient times. Archaeologists have seen numerous specimens of it certainly more than two thousand years old. Some are still as distinct as when they were first inscribed on the plaster. The investigation of the Egyptian monuments has shown that it was an ancient Egyptian custom first to plaster the stone walls of buildings, and also monumental stones that were to be painted with figures and hieroglyphics with a plaster of lime and gypsum into which the figures were worked. Thus it was possible in Egypt to engrave on the walls the most extensive pieces of writing, In this manner Deuteronomy 27:4-8 must be understood, and in this manner it was accomplished by Joshua,

20.

How were the people arranged? Joshua 8:33

We read that Joshua arranged half of them over against mount Gerizim. These were those who had sprung from the lawful wives of JacobSimeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin (Deuteronomy 27:12), He also stationed half of them over against mount Ebal. These were Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali (Deuteronomy 27:13). Five of these had sprung from the handmaids of Leah and Rachel, to whom Reuben is added, probably on account of his great sin (Genesis 35:22, cf. Genesis 49:3-4).

21.

What were ... blessings and cursings? Joshua 8:34

In Deuteronomy 27 a list of curses were brought out by Moses. They were these:

a.

Idolatry (Deuteronomy 27:15)

b.

Contempt of parents (Joshua 8:16)

c.

Removing a neighbor's landmark (Joshua 8:17)

d.

Inhumanity towards the blind, strangers, orphans, widows (Joshua 8:18-19)

e.

Incest and unnatural crimes (Joshua 8:20-23)

f.

Murder (Joshua 8:24-25)

g.

In general, against the transgression of the Law (Joshua 8:26)

There were also the following blessings in Deuteronomy 28

a.

In the city and on the field (Deuteronomy Joshua 8:3)

b.

On all births (Joshua 8:4)

c.

On the basket and on the kneading-trough (Joshua 8:5)

d.

On going out and coming in (Joshua 8:6)

e.

On the arms of Israel in contest with their enemies (Joshua 8:7)

f.

On their position among the nations (Joshua 8:9-14)

As Joshua read the words of the Law, the people had a visual presentation of the way in which some of them would keep the commandments of God and be blessed while others would disobey God's laws and be cursed. Not everyone who begins the Christian life will be faithful unto death and be saved. Many are called, but few are chosen. Some go in the broad way to destruction, but only a few go in the narrow gate to life. So was it in the camp of Israel. Some stood to represent the blessed; others, the cursed.

22.

Could all the people hear? Joshua 8:35

It is impossible to conceive a spot more admirably adapted for the purpose than this one. It was in the very center of the newly acquired land. None could more exactly fulfill all the required conditions. Imagine the chiefs and the priests gathered in the center of the valley. The tribes were stretching out as they stood in compact masses. The men of war and the heads of families, half on the north and half on the south, were crowding the slopes on either side. The mixed multitude was also there with the women and the children extending along in front until they spread into the plain beyond. There is no difficulty, much less impossibility, in the problem. A single voice could be heard by many thousands, the sound being shut in and conveyed up and down by the enclosing hills. People in such mountainous countries are able, from long practice, to pitch their voices so as to be heard distinctly at distances almost incredible. They talk with persons across enormous wadies, and give the most minute directions, which are perfectly understood. In doing this they seem to speak very little louder than their usual tone of conversation.