joshua-8:30-9:14

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Joshua 8:30-35

CHAPTER XVII.EBAL AND GERIZIM.Joshua 8:30-35. COMMENTATORS on Joshua have been greatly perplexed by the place which this narrative has in our Bibles. No one can study the map, and take into account the circumstances of Joshua and the people, without sharing in this perplexity. It will be observed from the map that Ebal and Gerizim, rising from the plain of Shechem, are a long way distant from Ai and Bethel. If we suppose Joshua and not his army only, but the whole of his people (Joshua 8:33),... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Joshua 8:1-35

8. The Overthrow of Ai CHAPTER 8 1. The advance commanded (Joshua 8:1-2 ) 2. The strategy of Joshua (Joshua 8:3-13 ) 3. Ai’s defeat (Joshua 8:14-29 ) 4. Joshua’s obedience (Joshua 8:30-35 ) Sin confessed, judged and put away restored communion with the Lord. If any burden remained upon the mind of Joshua, it was removed by the repeated words of comfort and cheer. “Fear not, neither be thou dismayed.” The failure is no longer mentioned, but instead, comfort and assurance is given and... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 8:1-35

AI TOTALLY DESTROYED (vs.1-29) Now the Lord gives explicit instructions to Joshua as to attacking Ai. How different these were to the plans Joshua used at first! God tells Joshua not to be afraid, but to take with him all the men of war, not only 3000 men (v.1). It was God who would deliver them into the hand of Joshua, so that there was no doubt of their gaining the victory. They must do with Ai as they had done with Jericho, but in this case the people could take the spoil for themselves... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Joshua 8:1-35

JERICHO AND AI DIVINE ORDERS (Joshua 6:1-5 ) These verses should not be separated from the foregoing by a chapter division, since it is evident that the orders here received by Joshua were given by the Captain of the Lord’s host previously described. Observe another proof of His deity in the words, “I have given into thine hand Jericho.” The mode by which Joshua was to proceed (Joshua 6:3-5 ) calls for no explanation. What had been his own preparations for the attack on the city? Was he... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Joshua 8:1-35

The Taking of Ai Spiritualised Joshua 8:0 THE details of this chapter are certainly not in keeping with the spirit of the later revelations of the mind of God. We have nothing to do with the chapter locally and incidentally; in that respect it is a forgotten thing. Revelations are unquestionably matters of time. This is the solution of many difficulties which are supposed to be found in the Bible, where there are really no difficulties at all when the whole is measured by the right scale and... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Joshua 8:30

Observe, how lovely it is, when even war is not suffered to interrupt religious services to God. Though Joshua was now getting more and more into the heart of the enemies' country, yet he will pause to bless God, Oh! that all the victories of Israel now, were thus followed up with praise! read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Joshua 8:30

Hebal. The Samaritan Chronicle says on Mount Garizim. No doubt Josue complied with the injunctions of Moses: but we have seen that there are reasons to doubt which mountain he pitched upon, Deuteronomy xxvii. 4. (Haydock) --- It seems more probable that the altar would be upon Garizim, where the blessings were proclaimed, if the texts of Moses and of Josue did not formally assert the contrary. (Calmet) --- But if they have been interpolated, nothing certain can be deduced from those passages.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 8:30-35

30-35 As soon as Joshua got to the mountains Ebal and Gerizim, without delay, and without caring for the unsettled state of Israel, or their enemies, he confirmed the covenant of the Lord with his people, as appointed, Joshua 8:11; Joshua 8:27. We must not think to defer covenanting with God till we are settled in the world; nor must any business put us from minding and pursuing the one thing needful. The way to prosper is to begin with God, Matthew 6:33. They built an altar, and offered... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Joshua 8:30-35

Blessing and Curse Proclaimed v. 30. Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal, as the Lord had commanded, Deuteronomy 27:4-:, v. 31. as Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the Law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron, Exodus 20:25. And they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace-offerings. v. 32. And he (Joshua) wrote there upon the... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Joshua 8:1-35

3. Capture and Destruction of AiJoshua 8:1-29a. Joshua’s Stratagem against AiJoshua 8:1-131And the Lord [Jehovah] said unto Joshua: Fear not, neither be thou dismayed, [Joshua 1:9]: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land: 2And thou shalt do unto Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto... read more