30 Then doth Joshua build an altar to Jehovah, God of Israel, in mount Ebal, 31 as Moses, servant of Jehovah, commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses—an altar of whole stones, over which he hath not waved iron—and they cause to go up upon it burnt-offerings to Jehovah, and sacrifice peace-offerings; 32 and he writeth there on the stones the copy of the law of Moses, which he hath written in the presence of the sons of Israel. 33 And all Israel, and its elders, and authorities, and its judges, are standing on this side and on that of the ark, over-against the priests, the Levites, bearing the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, as well the sojourner as the native, half of them over-against mount Gerizim, and the half of them over-against mount Ebal, as Moses servant of Jehovah commanded to bless the people of Israel at the first. 34 And afterwards he hath proclaimed all the words of the law, the blessing and the reviling, according to all that is written in the book of the law; 35 there hath not been a thing of all that Moses commanded which Joshua hath not proclaimed before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the infants, and the sojourner who is going in their midst.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 8:30-35
Commentary on Joshua 8:30-35
(Read Joshua 8:30-35)
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, Matthew 6:33. They built an altar, and offered sacrifice to God, in token of their dedicating themselves to God, as living sacrifices to his honour, in and by a Mediator. By Christ's sacrifice of himself for us, we have peace with God. It is a great mercy to any people to have the law of God in writing, and it is fit that the written law should be in a known tongue, that it may be seen and read of all men.