Renewed Commitment to the Law

30 At that time Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal(A) to the Lord, the God of Israel, 31 just as Moses the Lord’s servant 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.(B) Then they offered burnt offerings to the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings on it. 32 There on the stones, Joshua copied the law of Moses, which he had written in the presence of the Israelites.(C) 33 All Israel, foreigner and citizen alike, with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on either side of the ark of the Lord’s covenant facing the Levitical priests who carried it. As Moses the Lord’s servant had commanded earlier, half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half in front of Mount Ebal,(D) to bless the people of Israel.(E) 34 Afterward, Joshua read aloud all the words of the law—the blessings as well as the curses—according to all that is written in the book of the law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read before the entire assembly of Israel, including the women, the little children, and the foreigners who were with them.(F)

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Joshua Renews the Covenant

30 Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord God of Israel, on Mount Ebal, 31 just the way Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelis in the Book of the Law of Moses: “…an altar of uncut[a] stones that hasn’t been worked with iron tools…”[b] and they offered burnt offerings to the Lord on it, along with peace offerings.

32 There Joshua[c] inscribed on stones a copy of the Law of Moses that Moses had presented to[d] the Israelis. 33 All Israel, both foreigners and citizens, together with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on opposite sides of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. Half stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half stood in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses, the Lord’s servant had commanded at the first, so that they could bless the people of Israel.[e] 34 Afterwards, Joshua[f] read all the words of the Law—both the blessings and the curses—according to everything written in the Book of the Law.[g] 35 There wasn’t one word of everything Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read in front of the entire assembly of Israel, including the women, their little ones, and the foreigners who lived among them.

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Footnotes

  1. Joshua 8:31 Or whole
  2. Joshua 8:31 Cf. Deut. 27:5b
  3. Joshua 8:32 Lit. he
  4. Joshua 8:32 Lit. that he had written in the presence of
  5. Joshua 8:33 Cf. Deut 28:1-14
  6. Joshua 8:34 Lit. he
  7. Joshua 8:34 Cf. Deut 27:1-28:68