Joshua 8:31

Translations

Modern

…just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool has been used.” And on it they offered burnt offerings to the LORD, and they sacrificed peace offerings.

Traditional

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.

Literal

…as Moses the servant of YHWH had commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “An altar of whole stones, over which he has not wielded iron.” And they offered on it burnt offerings to YHWH, and they sacrificed peace offerings.

Latin

…sicut præceperat Moyses famulus Domini filiis Israël, et scriptum est in volumine legis Moysi: altare vero de lapidibus impolitis, quos ferrum non tetigit: et obtulit super eo holocausta Domino, immolavitque pacificas victimas.

Original

Hebrew

English

…just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool has been used.” And on it they offered burnt offerings to the LORD, and they sacrificed peace offerings.

Notes

Joshua 8:30–31

Archaeologists have recently discovered an altar on Mount Ebal. It was built of uncut stones and was not shaped with iron tools. However, no inscription has been found with the altar (8:32).
burnt offerings … peace offerings: These were part of the laws of sacrifice God gave Moses while Israel was at Mount Sinai (Leviticus 1, 3). Moses gave specific commands for this ceremony (see Deuteronomy 11:26–32; 27:1–28:68).

Theme notes and profiles

Joshua God’s Covenants Shechem The Broken Covenant

Events

War with Canaanites

Related verses

Deuteronomy 27:5–7
Moreover, you are to build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You must not use any iron tool on them.
Exodus 20:24–25
You are to make for Me an altar of earth, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats and cattle. In every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.
1 Kings 18:31–32
And Elijah took twelve stones, one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come and said, “Israel shall be your name.”
Exodus 18:12
Then Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.
Exodus 24:5
Then he sent out some young men of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD.
Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.
Joshua 8:34–35
Afterward, Joshua read aloud all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—according to all that is written in the Book of the Law.
2 Chronicles 35:12
They set aside the burnt offerings to be given to the divisions of the families of the people to offer to the LORD, as it is written in the Book of Moses. And they did the same with the bulls.
2 Kings 22:8
Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan, who read it.
2 Chronicles 25:4
Yet he did not put their sons to death, but acted according to what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded: “Fathers must not be put to death for their children, and children must not be put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.”
Nehemiah 13:1
At that time the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people, and in it they found the passage stating that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,
Matthew 12:26
If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?

Parallels

Deuteronomy 27:1–10

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt

Glossary

Altar Book of Exodus Conquest and Allotment of the Land Covenant Jacob’s Well Jeroboam Joshua (Person) Joshua, Book of Judah, Tribe of Judges, Book of Servant Shechem (Place) Tribe of Dan

Topics

Altar: Built by Joshua Altar: Mosaic Commandments Prescribing the Construction of Altars of Joshua Commandments: General Scriptures Concerning Curse: Curses of the Mosaic Law Iron: Made Into: Tools for Artificers Law: Engraved Upon Monuments Peace offerings: Offered by Joshua Peace-Offerings by Joshua After his Victories Stones used in Building Altars

Joshua 8:31

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