Commentary on Joshua - Keil & Delitzsch - David Cox

Keil and Delitzsch <strong>Commentary</strong> on the Old Testament
command of God was not a matter of such indifference to the servant of the Lord as
Knobel imagines. There was no valid reason after the capture of Ai for postponing
any longer the solemn ceremony of setting up the law of Jehovah which had been
enjoined by Moses; and if we consider the reason for this solemnity, to which we
have already referred, there can be no doubt that Joshua would proceed without the
least delay to set up the law of the Lord in Canaan as early as possible, even before
the subjugation of the whole land, that he might thereby secure the help of God for
further conflicts and enterprises.
The account of this religious solemnity is given very briefly. It presupposes an
acquaintance with the Mosaic instructions in Deut 27, and merely gives the leading
points, to show that those instructions were carefully carried out by Joshua. Of the
three distinct acts of which the ceremony consisted, in the book of Deuteronomy the
setting up of the stones with the law written upon them is mentioned first (Deut 27:2-
4), and then (vv. 5-7) the building of the altar and the offering of sacrifice. Here, on
the contrary, the building of the altar and offering of sacrifice are mentioned first (vv.
30, 31), and then (v. 32) the writing of the law upon the stones; which was probably
the order actually observed. - In v. 30 Jehovah is called "the God of Israel," to show
that henceforth no other god was to be worshipped in Canaan than the God of Israel.
On Mount Ebal , see at Deut 11:29 and 27:4.
Verse 31-33. "As Moses commanded:" namely, Deut 27:5. "As it is written in the
book of the law of Moses:" viz., in Ex 20:22 (25). On the presentation of burntofferings
and slain-offerings, see at Deut 27:6-7. - In
v. 32 nothing is mentioned but the writing of the law upon the stones; all the rest is
presupposed from Deut 27:2ff., to which the expression "the stones" refers. "Copy of
the law:" as in Deut 17:18; see the explanation at Deut 27:3. In connection with the
third part of the ceremony the promulgation of the law with the blessing and cursing,
the account of the Mosaic instructions given in Deut 27:11ff. is completed in v. 33 by
the statement that "all Israel, and their elders (i.e., with their elders), and shoterim,
and judges," stood on both sides of the ark before the Levitical priests, the stranger as
well as the native, i.e., without any exception, one half (i.e., six tribes) towards
Mount Ebal, and the other half towards Mount Gerizim. For further remarks, see at
http://207.44.232.113/~bible/comment/ot/k&d/josh/jos45.html (2 of 3) [13/08/2004 01:17:33 p.m.]