Deep Dive

Joshua 8:31

A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →

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.

Deep dive References (12)

Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 31

The embarrassment which Achan's sin gave to the affairs of Israel being over, we have them here in a very good posture again, the affairs both of war and religion. Here is, I. The glorious progress of their arms in the taking of Ai, before which they had lately suffered disgrace. 1. God encourages Joshua to attack it, with the assurance of success, and directs him what method to take (Jos 8:1, Jos 8:2). 2. Joshua gives orders accordingly to the men of war (Jos 8:3-8). 3. The stratagem is managed as it was projected, and succeeds as it was desired (Jos 8:9-22). 4. Joshua becomes master of this city, puts all the inhabitants to the sword, burns it, hangs the king, but gives the plunder to the soldiers (Jos 8:23-29). II. The great solemnity of writing and reading the law before a general assembly of all Israel, drawn up for that purpose upon the two mountains of Gerizim and Ebal, according to an order which Moses had received from the Lord, and delivered to them (Jos 8:30-35). Thus did they take their work before them, and make the business of their religion to keep pace with their secular business.

Open source ↗

Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 31

מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity כָּתַב (kâthab, H3789) — to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe) סֵפֶר (çêpher, H5612) — properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book תּוֹרָה (tôwrâh, H8451) — a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbêach, H4196) — an altar שָׁלֵם (shâlêm, H8003) — complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly אֶבֶן (ʼeben, H68) — a stone נוּף (nûwph, H5130) — to quiver (i.e. vibrate up and down, or rock to and fro); used in a great variety of… בַּרְזֶל (barzel, H1270) — iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement

Open source ↗

Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Exodus 18:12rank 2

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.

Joshua 1:8rank 2

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.

Exodus 24:5rank 2

Then he sent out some young men of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD.

II Chronicles 25:4rank 1

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.”

Ezra 6:18rank 1

They also appointed the priests by their divisions and the Levites by their groups to the service of God in Jerusalem, according to what is written in the Book of Moses.

Matthew 12:26rank 1

If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?

II Kings 22:8rank 1

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.

Nehemiah 13:1rank 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,

II Chronicles 35:12rank 1

They set aside the burnt offerings to be given to the divisions of the families of the people to offer to the LORD, as is written in the Book of Moses; and they did the same with the bulls.

II Kings 14:6rank 1

Yet he did not put the sons of the murderers to death, but acted according to what is written in the Book of the Law 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.”

Commentaries

Original language

Cross-references

Your reflection