Joshua 8:30

Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal. As was commanded, Deuteronomy 27:5.

Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal, Then Joshua built an altar ... in mount Ebal - (see the note at Deuteronomy 27:1-26.) This spot was little short of twenty miles from Ai.

Then, to wit, after the taking of Ai. For they were obliged to do this when they were brought over Jordan into the land of Canaan, 27:2,3, which is not to be understood strictly, as if it were to be done the same moment or day; for it is manifest they were first to be circumcised, and to eat the passover, which they did, and which was the work of some days; but as soon as they had opportunity to do it, which was now when these two great frontier cities were taken and destroyed, and thereby the coast cleared, and the bordering people under great consternation and confusion, that all the Israelites might securely march thither. And indeed this work was fit to be done as soon as might be, that thereby they might renew their covenant with, and profess their subjection to, that God by whose help alone they could expect success in their great and difficult enterprise. Built an altar, to wit, for the offering of sacrifices, as appears from the following verse, and from . In Mount Ebal. Why not on Mount Gerizim also? Answ. Because God’ s altar was to be but in one place, ,14, and this place was appointed to be Mount Ebal, ,5, which also seems most proper for it, that in that place whence the curses of the law were denounced against sinners, there might also be the tokens and means of grace, and peace and reconciliation with God, for the removing of the curses, and the procuring of God’ s blessing unto sinners.

Joshua 8:30 Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,Ver. 30. Then Joshua built an altar.] According to Moses’ s charge. to mount Ebal.] Which was far up in the country, near Shechem, in the tribe of Ephraim. The Canaanites were now so quaffed and dismayed with the destruction of Jericho and Ai, that for the present they opposed not the Israelites in their way to these two mountains, and their service there performed.

(30, 31) An altar . . . in mount Ebal . . .—This was explicitly commanded in Deuteronomy. The blessing was put on mount Gerizim, the altar and the curse on mount Ebal. We do not hear elsewhere of any sacrifice on Ebal. But it is certain that God accepted sacrifices in many places in Canaan. (Cf. Exodus 19:24.)

Verse 30. Then Joshua built an altar] This was done in obedience to the express command of God, Deuteronomy 27:4-8. See the notes there.

30–35. The Altar of Blessing and of Cursing 30. Then Joshua built] The passes being now secured, and the interior of the country rendered accessible, Joshua resolved to take advantage of the terror which the success of his arms had inspired in the hearts of the Canaanites, and to carry out the command of Moses respecting the ratification of the Law with solemn ceremonies (Deuteronomy 27:2-8). By a grand national act it was to be declared “in what character Israel meant to hold what it had received of God.” This act was to consist of three parts:— (a) The Law was to be inscribed on “great stones” (Deuteronomy 27:2) which had been “plaistered with plaister;” and these as Memorial Stones were to be set up on “mount Ebal” (Deuteronomy 27:4); (b) An altar of “whole stones” (Deuteronomy 27:5-6) was to be erected on the same spot and solemn sacrifices offered thereon; (c) The priests with the Ark were to occupy the valley between Ebal and Gerizim, surrounded by the elders, officers, and judges; the curses of the Law were then to be read aloud by the Levites, to which half the tribes on Ebal were to respond with a loud Amen, and to the blessings of the Law the other half on Gerizim were similarly to testify their acquiescence. in mount Ebal] To carry out this solemn function, the first step taken by Joshua was to advance with the people from Ai and Beth-el northwards towards Shechem, to the valley bounded on the south by the range of Gerizim, and on the north by that of Ebal, “the most beautiful, perhaps it might be said the only very beautiful spot in central Palestine.” Two events consecrated the valley in the memory of every Israelite. (a) It was here that Abraham halted on his journey from Chaldæa and erected his first altar to the Lord (Genesis 12:6-7); (b) It was here that Jacob settled on his return from the same region of Mesopotamia, and bought the parcel of the field, where he had spread his tent, of the children of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for a hundred pieces of money (Genesis 33:19).

The account of this solemnity is very brief. An acquaintance with Deut.

30. Mount Ebal — The mountain, nearly eight hundred feet high, which rises in steep, rocky precipices on the north side of the narrow valley in which lay the city, Shechem, and which was confronted on the south by Mount Gerizim.