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.

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Israel Renews the Covenant

30 Then Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal for Yahweh the God of Israel, 31 as Moses Yahweh’s servant commanded the Israelites,[a] as it is written in the scroll of the law of Moses: “an altar of unhewn[b] stones on which no one has wielded[c] an iron implement.”[d] And they offered burnt offerings on it and sacrificed fellowship offerings. 32 And there Joshua wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he[e] had written, in the presence of the Israelites.[f] 33 Then all Israel, foreigner as well as native,[g] with the elders, officials, and judges stood on either side[h] of the ark before the priests and the Levites, who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. Half of them stood in front of Mount Gerizim, and the other half in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses Yahweh’s servant had commanded before to bless the people of Israel. 34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings[i] and the curses,[j] according to all that was written in the scroll of the law.

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Footnotes

  1. Joshua 8:31 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  2. Joshua 8:31 Or “whole”
  3. Joshua 8:31 Literally “waved over them”
  4. Joshua 8:31 See Exod 20:25
  5. Joshua 8:32 That is, Moses
  6. Joshua 8:32 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  7. Joshua 8:33 Literally “as the alien as the native”
  8. Joshua 8:33 Literally “from this and from this”
  9. Joshua 8:34 Hebrew “blessing”
  10. Joshua 8:34 Hebrew “curse”