Keraia
Joshua 8

Joshua 8:33

Joshua Renews the Covenant · Joshua 8:30–35
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Translations

Modern
All Israel, foreigners and citizens alike, with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the LORD facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded earlier, to bless the people of Israel.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And all Israel, and its elders, and its officers, and its judges, stood on this side and on this side of the ark before the priests, the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of YHWH, as the sojourner as the native. Half of them were toward the front of Mount Gerizim, and half of them toward the front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of YHWH had commanded, that they should bless the people of Israel at the first.
Latin
Omnis autem populus, et majores natu, ducesque ac judices, stabant ex utraque parte arcæ, in conspectu sacerdotum qui portabant arcam fœderis Domini, ut advena, ita et indigena. Media pars eorum juxta montem Garizim, et media juxta montem Hebal, sicut præceperat Moyses famulus Domini. Et primum quidem benedixit populo Israël.

Original

Hebrew
English
All Israel, foreigners and citizens alike, with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the LORD facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded earlier, to bless the people of Israel.

Notes

Joshua 8:33

The town of Shechem is between Mount Gerizim to the south and Mount Ebal to the north. It guarded the passage between these two mountains. Although the ceremony to renew the covenant happened at Shechem, neither the book of Joshua nor Judges mentions that Israel conquered the town. Every Israelite was present. They placed the ark of the covenant in the valley between the two groups. This ceremony was a promise to practice the covenant God made with Israel at Mount Sinai.

Joshua 8:33–35

This ceremony marked the official claiming of the land, even though major battles against the people of Canaan were still ahead. The sacrifice ceremony and reading of the law of Moses emphasized God's covenant promises and obligations. It also anticipated the eventual possession of all of Canaan.

Events

Parallels

Deuteronomy 27:1–10

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Levi: Son of Jacob; progenitor of the Levites Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt

Places

Mount Ebal: A mountain in Canaan, site of curses and blessings ceremony Mount Gerizim: Mountain in Samaria; site of blessings and Jotham's parable

Glossary

Ark of the Covenant Conquest and Allotment of the Land Covenant Jacob’s Well Jeroboam Joshua (Person) Joshua, Book of Judah, Tribe of Judges, Book of Mount Ebal Mount Gerizim Servant Shechem (Place) Tribe of Dan

Topics

Benedictions by Half the Tribes, Who Stood on Mount Gerizim Commandments: General Scriptures Concerning Curse: Curses of the Mosaic Law Ebal: A Mountain of Ephraim--Half of the Tribes of Israel Stand On, to Respond Amen to the Curses of the Law Gerizim: Mount of Blessing Government: Mosaic: Closely Associated with Moses and Subsequent Leaders Law: Curses of, Responsively Read by Levites and People at Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim Law: Engraved Upon Monuments Levites: Pronounced the Blessings of the Law in the Responsive Service at Mount Gerizim Prayer: Imprecatory Reward: A Motive to Faithfulness Strangers in Israel: Laws Respecting: To Have the Law Read to Them Word of God: To be Read Publicly Word of God: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Worship: On Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal Worship: The Word of God Read in Public Assemblies