Joshua 8

Joshua 8:1

CAPTURE OF AI, Joshua 8:1-29.

1. Fear not — Joshua had need of reassurance and encouragement after the disasters and humiliation which Israel had suffered for the sin of Achan. As shines the sun emerging from behind a thunder cloud, so the returning mercy of Jehovah upon the camp of Israel. Take all the people of war with thee — How different from the counsel of the spies, (Joshua 7:3,) “Let not all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up.” The Lord could, indeed, have given Ai into the hands of two or three thousand as easily as to all, but he would not encourage Israel in a rash, imprudent dependence on Omnipotence. It appears from Joshua 8:3 that the expression all the people of war, like the oft-recurring phrase, “all Israel,” is not to be taken in its widest import. It is probable that the whole camp was put in preparation, and the whole force was reviewed, and thirty thousand of the most suitable were detached for this expedition, while the rest of the army was held in reserve.

Go up to Ai — The march from Jericho to Ai was actually an ascent, but the term go up is often used in a military sense of an advance against a city or nation where the advance is not an actual ascent. Have given — The conquest of Ai was a foregone conclusion in the Divine mind. Compare Joshua 6:2, note.

Joshua 8:2

2. Only the spoil thereof… shall ye take — The spoils of Jericho had been devoted wholly to the Lord, as the first fruits of the conquest of Canaan. But the spoils of Ai and of the other conquered cities (Deuteronomy 6:10-11) are now to be appropriated unto the conquerors. The people and their king are to be slain and their city subverted. There was, henceforth, to be no temptation to the sin of Achan. Had he waited obediently and refrained from the accursed thing he might now have innocently enriched himself.

So sin generally misses the mark. Lay thee an ambush — If war itself is ever justifiable, it is right to use the mind as well as the hand, strategy as well as brute force. It is certain that a contest of wit is as proper as a contest of muscle. Says Calvin: “Those are pronounced the best generals whose success is due less to force than to skilful manoeuvres. It is, of course, understood that neither must treaties be violated, nor faith broken in any other way.” Behind it — As Joshua was east of Ai, the ambuscade, by a flank movement up one of the numerous ravines, was to be made on the west side of the city. See note on Joshua 8:9.

Joshua 8:3

3. Joshua arose… to go up — That is, set himself about the preliminary arrangements necessary for the march. Chose out thirty thousand — There is some apparent confusion in the details of this movement of Joshua. Some eminent commentators think that the entire army of more than six hundred thousand fighting men (Numbers 26:51) was engaged in this enterprise. The difficulties of this interpretation are: (1) the impossibility of handling advantageously so vast a body of soldiers in a country cut up by deep and narrow mountain gorges; (2) The exposure of the camp left behind them; (3) The presence of so vast an array before Ai would so appal the inhabitants that they would not venture to sally out and attack it; (4) The extreme difficulty of hiding so large an ambuscade as that of thirty thousand men not very far from the city. Some expositors have even supposed that there were two ambuscades, one of thirty thousand and the other of five thousand.

But if so, Joshua 8:9; Joshua 8:12 would argue that both were in the same place, namely, “between Bethel and Ai,” on the west side of Ai, and this is hardly supposable. Further, in Joshua 8:19; Joshua 8:21 mention is made of only one ambush.

The other theory is, that this number of men were all who were engaged. These were divided into two corps — one of five thousand for the ambush and the other of twenty-five thousand for the feigned assault. The latter theory being more reasonable, and involving less difficulties, is assumed by us. [On this hypothesis the order of events must be understood as follows: Joshua, having made all necessary arrangements, arose early one morning, and, accompanied by the elders, went up with the thirty thousand men who were, in this siege, all the people of war, and encamped on the north side of Ai. Joshua 8:10-11. This march occupied the day, so that it was evening when they approached Ai. That same night Joshua sent the five thousand men to lie in ambush on the west side of the city, (Joshua 8:4; Joshua 8:9; Joshua 8:12,) but he and the twenty-five thousand remained en-camped in the valley north of Ai.

Joshua 8:13. The next day the king of Ai, not knowing Joshua’s stratagem, hasted out early with his people to attack the Israelites, but was caught in the snare prepared to deceive him, and he and his people and city were utterly ruined.

On the apparent confusion of the narrative, see remarks in the Introduction on the style of the Hebrew historians.] And sent them away by night — A portion of them, five thousand in number. A part is here loosely put for the whole. See Joshua 8:12, rendering the verb took, had taken, as does the Vulgate.

Joshua 8:4

4. He commanded them — That is, the five thousand who were to form the ambuscade. To these the words from this verse on through Joshua 8:8 are addressed. But of course all these plans for the battle were also made known to the rest of the army.

Joshua 8:5

5. All the people — The soldiers are often spoken of by Homer as “the people.” We will flee — This was no uncommon stratagem for decoying the garrison of a walled town into the open fields. See Livy’s description of the capture of Fidenae by the Romans, book i, chap. 14. There is always danger of military disorganization on the part of the soldiers making this movement, unless they are let into the secret of the commander, as they were in the present instance.

Joshua 8:6

6. For they will come out after us — So infatuated are they over their recent victory that our greater numbers will not be likely to awe them from coming out against us. They flee before us, as at the first — It is a wise general who makes a former defeat aid him in securing a future victory.

Joshua 8:8

8. Ye shall set the city on fire — We are not to understand that the entire city is to be immediately destroyed by fire, for in that case there would be a loss of the promised spoil. A part of the city was set on fire as a signal, and the smoke was to signify to Joshua that it was time to stop the reigned retreat and return to the city. Afterwards the entire city was pillaged and destroyed. According to the commandment of the Lord — This is found in the second verse, “as unto Jericho.” See, I have commanded you — Be impressed with the fact that this is a momentous military order, and on your perfect obedience victory hinges.

Joshua 8:9

9. Between Bethel and Ai — This region is greatly cut up with gorges and ravines, “and,” says Dr. Thomson, “as I passed from Bethel towards Michmash, (southeasterly,) I could easily understand how Joshua’s ambush of five thousand men could be hid between Ai and Bethel.” [On the west side of Ai — A short distance west of Et-Tel, says Captain Wilson, “and entirely concealed from it by rising ground, is a small ravine well suited for an ambush, one of the branches of the main valley, which runs close to Et-Tel, and protects its northern face — the same into which the army of the Israelites descended the night before the capture of the city. On the hills to the north, beyond the valley, Joshua encamped before making his final arrangements for the attack, (Joshua 8:11,) and it seems probable that he took his stand at some point on the hillside while the battle was raging, for there is a most commanding view over the whole scene, not only up the lateral valley, in which the ambush was placed, but also down by the way of the wilderness. Joshua 8:15. He would thus be able at the same time to control the feigned flight of the Israelites, and signal the ambush (Joshua 8:18-19) to rise up quickly and seize the city.”] Joshua lodged that night among the people — That is, among the twenty-five thousand who encamped for the night on the north side of Ai in the valley.

Joshua 8:11; Joshua 8:13. The night here mentioned is to be understood as identical with that mentioned in Joshua 8:3; Joshua 8:13.

Joshua 8:10

10. And Joshua rose up early — This must be regarded as a repetition of Jos 8:3, after the custom of oriental historians. Numbered the people — Reviewed the troops (thirty thousand) with whom he intended to capture Ai. Went up — From the Ghor, or Jordanic Valley, to the interior of Palestine. there is a steep ascent. Compare note on Luke 10:30. Ai was distant from Jericho about fifteen English miles. And the elders — As a council of war. Joshua’s impetuous and rapid movements were attended by a wise senate.

Joshua 8:11

11. A valley between them and Ai — The Hebrew reads the valley, the article intimating that it was well known. It was the main valley, of which the ravine in which the ambush was laid was a branch. See note on Joshua 8:9.

Joshua 8:12

12. And he took about five thousand — The Hebrew has no separate form for the pluperfect tense, hence we are justified in rendering an indefinite past tense by the pluperfect when the context requires it, as the Vulgate has rendered this — had taken and had set.

Joshua 8:13

13. Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley — That is, the valley on the north of Ai. Joshua 8:11, note. This movement was executed very late in the night, probably just before the dawn of day, when he was descried by the watchmen approaching the city in front.

Joshua 8:14

14. At a time appointed — In Judges 20:38, the same word is translated an appointed sign. This makes good sense here; but Gesenius and Furst both say that it is here to be rendered, an appointed place in Joshua’s line, upon which the attack was to be made. This place is mentioned immediately afterwards as the plain, that is, the Arabah, the desert, which is spoken of in Joshua 8:15 under the name of the wilderness.[15. Made as if they were beaten — The original simply reads were beaten. Keil renders it suffered themselves to be beaten.

The wilderness — The eastern slope of the mountains of Judah towards Jericho and the Dead Sea. Captain Wilson says that on the east of Et-Tel “the ground, which at first breaks down rapidly from the great ridge that forms the backbone of Palestine, swells out into a small plain three quarters of a mile broad, before commencing its abrupt descent to the Jordan valley.”] 16. And all the people — That is, all capable of military service. We read in Joshua 8:24 that some were killed in the city.

Joshua 8:17

17. Or Bethel — This small city, three miles distant on the west, had probably concentrated its military strength at Ai, as the next probable point of attack by Joshua after the conquest of Jericho; for we cannot conceive of their separate and concerted action, with a large undiscovered ambuscade between them. Our interpretation is confirmed by the next statement, and they left the city — not cities — open. We have no further mention in this book of the conquest of Bethel, except that its king is in the list of those subdued by Joshua, in chap. Joshua 12:16. “It was not taken at that time, and seems long to have resisted the invaders. At last it fell before the arms, not of the little tribe of Benjamin, within whose territory it was included, but of the powerful house of Joseph, who attacked it from the north, and who thus acquired possession of it. Judges 1:23-25.” — Stanley. 89504e470d0a1a0a0000000d494844520000002a000000b6080300000098b9ef5100000300504c5445000000010101020202 0303030404040505050606060707070808080909090a0a0a0b0b0b0c0c0c0d0d0d0e0e0e0f0f0f1010101111111212121313 131414141515151616161717171818181919191a1a1a1b1b1b1c1c1c1d1d1d1e1e1e1f1f1f20202020202022222223232324 24242424242626262727272828282828282a2a2a2b2b2b2c2c2c2c2c2c2e2e2e2f2f2f303030303030323232333333343434 3434343636363737373838383838383a3a3a3b3b3b3c3c3c3c3c3c3e3e3e3f3f3f4040404141414141414343434444444545 454646464747474848484949494949494b4b4b4c4c4c4d4d4d4e4e4e4f4f4f50505051515151515153535354545455555556 56565757575858585959595959595b5b5b5c5c5c5d5d5d5e5e5e5f5f5f606060616161616161636363646464656565666666 6767676868686969696969696b6b6b6c6c6c6d6d6d6e6e6e6f6f6f7070707171717171717373737474747575757676767777 777878787979797979797b7b7b7c7c7c7d7d7d7e7e7e7f7f7f80808081818182828283838383838385858586868687878788 88888989898a8a8a8b8b8b8c8c8c8d8d8d8e8e8e8f8f8f909090919191929292939393939393959595969696979797989898 9999999a9a9a9b9b9b9c9c9c9d9d9d9e9e9e9f9f9fa0a0a0a1a1a1a2a2a2a3a3a3a3a3a3a5a5a5a6a6a6a7a7a7a8a8a8a9a9 a9aaaaaaabababacacacadadadaeaeaeafafafb0b0b0b1b1b1b2b2b2b3b3b3b3b3b3b5b5b5b6b6b6b7b7b7b8b8b8b9b9b9ba bababbbbbbbcbcbcbdbdbdbebebebfbfbfc0c0c0c1c1c1c2c2c2c3c3c3c3c3c3c5c5c5c6c6c6c7c7c7c8c8c8c9c9c9cacaca cbcbcbcccccccdcdcdcecececfcfcfd0d0d0d1d1d1d2d2d2d3d3d3d3d3d3d5d5d5d6d6d6d7d7d7d8d8d8d9d9d9dadadadbdb dbdcdcdcdddddddedededfdfdfe0e0e0e1e1e1e2e2e2e3e3e3e3e3e3e5e5e5e6e6e6e7e7e7e8e8e8e9e9e9eaeaeaebebebec ececedededeeeeeeefefeff0f0f0f1f1f1f2f2f2f3f3f3f3f3f3f5f5f5f6f6f6f7f7f7f8f8f8f9f9f9fafafafbfbfbfcfcfc fdfdfdfefefeffffff0e79e2e400000001624b47440088051d48000000097048597300000ec400000ec401952b0e1b000008 a74944415458858d59096c14e715de921a1bf07daed78bafb521accd196eb3c4c6052b11c41c519406a22840d2a084a84855 45694155412d4d53536808a5941e2954690454a5a52486d01813481ccea6145362c036a6f6da5e7b777676eef9facf60c0b3 ecf19eacd17afdf9edf7bfe37b6f666d8866b2063d80018c4a9f1b32dfb045854281caaed74624547e81904680566e42e66c 558de975884061d0fb5ae5ff621290018e5d1754001b53a5de985e158696f5a98ce47f126a1193ab16609725db3584e01ec5 2ed1a11244058de33b20a9783b61654c023aee0afafcf19754744e79ac5a8e01e5cda308cf5773dc1e9b4b8ae995b1954250 6780cbcad0a4585e0720051909f9f2e6a9b9df15d8ab185ebd80c82e93ed395fd7204831a001f06662f30f781c15aa108b2b 732389ecea84949804e3bfa213b82531bfc094cdb529a3d013cbab7110f4e349dbfe03b64a2356d1a12c0310c03f5e08d539 d5c86bccb8ca1c57fbe325120a5d03316b40f0b153976c6a9a0c756c89a6c7f11af09c6c3febe9876d63202657962e8f72e3 92af8247865b66d51b09ca126afc65ef34fbcf70e3e3ef89017b09227be520f332026afef4ba2fee5cfad38f00479184de08 501e8acaa2b4d97eaa6c657fdb99863f06b02c438de85532dbef838d73cf78967575f1f3d6e948f3a8821801aa1a5e7b17e1 8333df58e7f3f76cfe481a5c5aaa8a11b9fa35708bba824ddce29ab64e8c6d0472cbfd8854da8a0cdf9b97f7c9a75adc1fab 673b4e9fea94dea842c46ce9ecb3269e17ba7afefdd4f6ce77b87d4d90a6cd16ad0498eec0c73e4842f9181ffcc785594b9a ffd9b5feee553dbd0c8316683f543fabfd7eac729c13bd773b5133e9c2c50baf1cd250f8b468c956c8f84d633eddcbe742fc 87f8d5cd754f5cf9bcfdfbb7fc52f20488c270af22fa42d0b4b2bac601c5db8a8e132f2c3fffebd6b33bbec48902048613e0 7585b9fcf22567a72e20d80f7cfef847178e1d6ec66175c34483def008b09abc334d87f7e8b8ab6aabf4c987f58dd7aa5603 db91340dd6c4aa3cc4ae73213f9655fdd5d7239fbfb474df131d18d47c0313928d733c842a3a02dd55ef09dea6fd8a146c53 f79d585cb785c54e6fe5b2f30c797d0895d189aabb5eacdd8d976fbfc90ffca2f9b8df9c07bf5332f260910ca3e70f227857 c2919bc12d67bb7ffa9d5765c180346066a995abcaa14ac2a7fba16e50dadffff0f0c1893035057b30a344b37065f6061a64 f8dfc70f79b1fefc74883c075d174f21dd6994f043a8e09f77a09a25ed65aeefe0edbd7f5e631c044186b988a492b008a0c0 c3293cfe70d28bb6cfe6b0521a90cd3e69141c2e2b57e5e90e1f4bd73338e66b1fac811234def4df044e4bf65249b5487140 60a7781dea6fbbb05265a91b60a22583d7fa91380e967a158c9fd0625cbef85f5659e2c3247a91e680686918d928b4a377f6 3ffbc22783462bde2776c557598cf02e40e8dbf8fdf23d5bfa8c3a7a603da8cb806e112255d3b0507eae7e9211797fe0fedb 03b7513fc2da86cca9b6a81b2bbed961f6d703d3db95d579b2a55cc0857a67415cb34206279a5e1ef8585aac6ac387513b30 a98f3bb410418d8729bdf7ec5f21a1c06906e8a157df7bae3b7fa9ee53991b356016a869bd908aaaccdf8695cb4caf56d434 8ce53d6bb981ec62d93ae2423bc5292ff68423111a44bacbda0508b554fec05817c24d4156192c04b875532733f28f40451f 9c2eddeab52805dd3cf788536f1b0a4a74cb906f9fcb4bf774308c6b6b20b304167dddb58bd5e123e767827f9dcf2b46d830 128d1405c3a17dad708d152cc78a6672b738ce1d671a0ed9ad169fed995094696835b6c2fc24c19810f1a12d81eeea1c537b e2425900bff62462af8f43f6a982f2c2b0d28e62c78131f3d8e8211d4b494a8f3c8ec3ed08647b0e622f7a43f6ab6ee43b82 24af9f310c83fa08d0151c121c34ae3b11cc4932d6c3f8d05f72589f67946b7ce8df79ff8c2cc4bedb18b2778151aeb83ba1 69cdc0c8d16673c6859e94313a532395cb39454bc9d3744ab66e404fcda311b80ea4e587cb5b643b2de9994e5a691f1390e9 88b3c10fd9094620072402bb819c4a364708d0c641357bba484aec151f6c59b422bcc8b6b72444dc34c3ed14a45759b950b2 f5370c3c974923d00cc16ed349d03b12d2cb7452049a80c47abf21d171a187c0afcd32a77e5ce8cdeb2877f4ea9460e1366c 052aa9b282023212cc691217da16846d344d34d926919e8d7837d2f7b176b748526d0dc14467c8981b71a1ac59f33de6abb8 507fb79e58685df6a3d9e009357504adb2ba8ea2308d46a0bd05493961b73b51ccd70e5b0e4d5f6f5f5492d3400a16f72e32 4720e6a384fb76ed6d253387dd3111a0a1634a422a748a66e11a12928c7580209a476077d23a76d766d15908952219cd5b95 ac3444be3b0eb77dc84d03a95e030d722a5397584f73ee9bbe13c5a96cbda710d8814a076d1c8b6f69e5c4720934c03e8a26 c5e21ee426842dfb514c7f0763c7d0469cf696e2caa2c5157b747b116dc6622ff21c6abc6744f708ec4676a642dadefab621 23592741bf5aafa58d0189c0cd35727a322d5bfc6b7a4e0ab15e37c09146dcb517c24d9cdcfa1aa4a62824af1dcfc2ee004f 0956f7fce07467dc277af76cb558318623050b3f873d99266ffd3be048a5c91bb68aa536da4ea8ad424101b1b957213f8fa6 59781ef62c5a65694b554736485c853ab93897d6b1a10552999db694aab5321322d26d2416c965192a091a9a89fc9134cdd2 5f87fb31dadd06b662bc4ba3e9eb723d615ec8d81de22f24d39032ddb8772710f060462a4d07e45ad1334209902aab5eab99 02d230c202d48c246e6f1ed424d184489aa32f4aa1b5a1ecc1d23c22818558554a1c1b4f61ed04f3457c689df64a050daad5 0a6bdc44d15c866f39223f2d0f37750ebf2d3b4093b759fc36b78f1401d6303b5f8442a95754e1376e9abc89e5900acdaf46 e27b9d88eb4421c26c6c2a15483a209501a9c47299cf4b2e9abca1d4f44a81aaa5570f256ab42e78c99e51435b1d5488423f ad618cbb0795782c741b5fba3002ff07553b987b6a6747680000000049454e44ae426082

Joshua 8:18

18. The Lord said — As there were probably no facilities for consulting the Lord by means of the urim and thummim, we infer that there was an immediate communication to Joshua of this divine command. Stretch out the spear — This was the concerted signal for the ambush to arise and seize the city. The Hebrew word for spear has been variously explained. See note on 1 Samuel 17:6. The translator of the Vulgate, and several others, have rendered it shield. Others suppose that a shield was elevated on the spear. Gesenius suggests that the spear supported a small flag, like that of the modern lance. This could be seen by the distant liers in wait, who were, doubtless, instructed to watch for the signal. Toward the city — An act symbolical of the terrible blow which was now to ruin it forever.

Joshua 8:19

19. And set the city on fire — Not only for its destruction, but also for a signal to the army which was feigning a retreat to turn upon their pursuers, whose place of safety was now cut off. In Joshua 8:28 the burning of the city occurs after the pillage, but that is to be understood of the completion and consequence of what the ambush had begun.

Joshua 8:20

20. And they had no power to flee — [Literally, there was not in them two hands to fly. Keil makes the word rendered two hands mean on both sides, that is, it was not in them to flee on either side, or in either direction. But this explanation hardly holds good in connection with the expression áäí, in them. We prefer, therefore, the common version, which takes hands metaphorically for capability, power for action or flight.] They were appalled by the revelation of the plot, and stupified by sudden terror. Their wives, children, houses, and possessions were in the hands of a merciless foe, and they themselves were in a ravine completely shut in before and behind by Joshua’s army.

Joshua 8:22

22. They let none of them… escape — Considering the Israelites’ superior numbers, their advantage in the strife, and the panic of the men of Ai, their total destruction was an easy matter. Rarely in those times were prisoners taken in battle. The sword devoured utterly.

Joshua 8:23

23. And the king of Ai they took alive — Kings were anciently spared in battle, either to grace the triumph of the victor, or for the accomplishment of some political end, or, as in this case, for a more formal and impressive execution. The king of Bethel (Joshua 12:16) was, perhaps, killed in this battle, and left among the common dead, so that no special notice of his death is here recorded.

Joshua 8:24

24. Smote it with the edge of the sword — The non-combatant population, without regard to age or sex, were indiscriminately slain. For several considerations in justification of the total excision of the Canaanites, see note on Joshua 6:21.

Joshua 8:25

[25. Twelve thousand — Some expositors have argued that these twelve thousand were only the military force of Ai; but this would imply a population of fifty or sixty thousand; a number far too large for a comparatively small city among the hills. Compare chap. Joshua 7:3. This verse clearly affirms that the twelve thousand included all that fell that day, both of men and women.] 25. Joshua drew not his hand back — The uplifted spear was not only a signal for the assault of the city, but also for its continuance till the conquest was completed. We see no good reason for regarding this act as symbolic of prayer, as was the lifting up of Moses’ hands when Israel fought with Amalek. Exodus 17:11.

Joshua 8:27

27. A prey unto themselves — Joshua’s army was now, like Sherman’s on his grand march to the sea, a moving column cut off from its base of supplies. Hence it must live upon spoils.

Joshua 8:28

28. A heap for ever — [The word translated heap is úì, Tel, and strikingly confirms Capt. Wilson’s identification of the site of Ai with the mound still bearing, after the lapse of ages, the name Et-Tel, the ruined heap. Compare note on Joshua 7:2. Because the meaning of Ai is a heap of ruins the Rationalists build up a theory that the history of its conquest is a myth, growing out of ruins of unknown origin. But the city destroyed by Joshua may have taken the name of Ai or Hai, the ruins, from the ruins of a more ancient city out of which it may have been built.

Unto this day — This clause seems awkward, coming immediately after for ever, but it shows that the word for ever sometimes has a limited reference. Perhaps, however, the historian, or some later editor, meant by the former clause, closing with for ever, to express Joshua’s purpose to make Ai a perpetual desolation, and by the latter clause to indicate its fulfilment. The name of Ai appears again, after a thousand years, as inhabited. Nehemiah 11:31. But it was probably on another site, just as there were an Old and a New Troy, an Old and a New Tyre.

Joshua 8:29

29. The king of Ai he hanged — For the reason, see note on Joshua 8:23. On a tree — The Septuagint says, on a double tree, which the Vulgate renders, a fork-shaped gibbet. Until eventide — This was in accordance with the law, (Deuteronomy 21:23,) “that the land be not defiled.” Among the ancient Israelites hanging alive seems not to have been practiced, but, as Deuteronomy 21:22, implies, the victim was first slain and then hanged. Comp. Joshua 10:26; 2 Samuel 4:12. At the entering of the gate — Probably the dead body was cast into a pit. Thus the Septuagint translates this passage. A great heap of stones — See note on Joshua 7:26.

Joshua 8:30

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. See on Joshua 8:33, and on John 5:4.

Joshua 8:31

31. An altar of whole stones — That is, stones on which no tool of iron had been used to chisel down or polish. According to the law of Exo 20:25, a stone altar must not be built of hewn stones, for the touch of an iron tool upon it was regarded as a pollution. And an unhewn stone would the better symbolize that Living Stone, (1 Peter 2:4.) cut out of the mountain without hands, (Daniel 2:45,) which has become the head of the corner, (Ephesians 2:20,) and certainly owes none of its excellence to human culture or polish.

Joshua 8:32

32. He wrote there upon the stones — Whether these stones were the same as those of which the altar was built, or others, erected solely for the purpose of inscription, is not positively determined either by this passage or that of Deu 27:2-8. But the more probable opinion, and the one adopted by most expositors, is that it was a separate monument of stones on which the law was written. According to the original command, (Deuteronomy 27:4,) the stones were to be smeared with cement, and the words to be written upon it. At first thought this would seem to lack the chief quality of a memorial, durability. But travelers in the east assert that such inscriptions are as lasting as those cut in the rock.

Says Dr. Thomson: “A careful examination of Deu 27:4; Deuteronomy 27:8, and Joshua 8:30-32, will lead to the opinion that the law was written upon, or in, the plaster with which these pillars were coated.

This could be done, and such writing was common in ancient times. I have seen numerous specimens of it certainly two thousand years old, and still as distinct as when they were first inscribed on the plaster. In this hot climate, where there is no frost to dissolve the cement, it will continue hard and unbroken for thousands of years, which is certainly long enough. The cement on Solomon’s pools remains in admirable preservation, though exposed to all the vicissitudes of climate, and with no protection. The cement in the tombs about Sidon is still perfect, and the writing entire, though acted upon for perhaps two thousand years by the moist damp air always found in caverns.” Respecting the mode of writing on the cement, he says: “What Joshua did, therefore, when he erected these great stones at Mount Ebal, was merely to write in the still soft cement with a stile, or, more likely, on the polished surface, when dry, with red paint, as in ancient tombs.” A copy of the law of Moses — The chief difficulty which critics have here is in the size of the work, if the whole of the Torah, or Mosaic law, is to be deemed as thus inscribed. The Hebrew word for copy is mishneh, (îùׁ ?ðä,) and signifies a repetition, a duplicate, “an apograph next to the original.” The Septuagint and the Vulgate translate it by the word Deuteronomy, which, though literally meaning a repetition of the law, had already acquired a narrower signification.

Several Rabbins make the incredible statement that the whole law, word for word, was written on the monuments, in seventy different languages, that all the people of the earth might be able to read it! Clarke and Bush suppose ‘“that only a copy of the blessings and curses, recorded in Deuteronomy 27, 28, was written.” But Keil well says, “To limit ‘the law’ to the blessings and curses is out of the question, for these are not ‘the law.’ but motives added to impel, or rather adjure, the people to keep the law inviolate.” [The opinion of Grotius seems at first very plausible, that the Decalogue is meant, for it contains the essence of the whole law, all else being accessory to it.

But against it is the insuperable objection, that to call” the words of the covenant” — “the ten words,” (Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 4:13,) which are ever associated with “the two tables of the testimony” — to call these a copy of the law of Moses would be inexplicably strange. In the absence of any specific statement it is impossible to decide the question positively, but we incline to the view of Hengstenberg, Keil, and others, that the so-called “second law” is meant, which is embodied in Deuteronomy, between Deuteronomy 4:44, and Deuteronomy 26:19, omitting, of course; the exhortations and historical incidents with which it is now associated in the Book of Deuteronomy. This would be the essence of all the law of Moses.]

Joshua 8:33

33. As well the stranger — The entire body of Israelites, by descent and by adoption, were present. The latter were more commonly called proselytes, but sometimes strangers. Over against Mount Gerizim — The multitude did not stand on the summits of the mountains, but on their slopes. That they could all hear when thus standing is sufficiently attested by modern travellers. Says Stanley: “The vale of Shechem is far from broad, not exceeding in some places a few hundred feet.” [Says Tristram: “The acoustic properties of this valley are interesting.

A single voice might be heard by many thousands, shut in and conveyed up and down by the enclosing hills. In the early morning we could not only see from Gerizim a man driving his ass down a path on Mount Ebal, but could hear every word he uttered as he urged it on; and, in order to test the matter more certainly, on a subsequent occasion two of our party stationed themselves on opposite sides of the valley, and with perfect ease recited the commandments antiphonally.”] Dr. W.M. Thomson writes, respecting this impressive scene: “This was, beyond question or comparison, the most august assembly the sun ever shone upon. I never stand on the narrow plain, with Ebal and Gerizim rising on either hand to the sky, without involuntarily recalling and reproducing the scene. I have shouted to hear the echo, and then fancied how it must have been when the loud-voiced Levites proclaimed from the naked cliffs of Ebal, ‘Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto Jehovah;’ and then the tremendous AMEN, tenfold louder, from the mighty congregation, rising and swelling, and reaching from Ebal to Gerizim and from Gerizim to Ebal.”