Joshua 8:30 kjv
Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,
Joshua 8:30 nkjv
Now Joshua built an altar to the LORD God of Israel in Mount Ebal,
Joshua 8:30 niv
Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel,
Joshua 8:30 esv
At that time Joshua built an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal,
Joshua 8:30 nlt
Then Joshua built an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal.
Joshua 8 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 27:4 | "When you cross the Jordan, you shall set up these stones on Mount Ebal..." | Command for Joshua to build altar on Ebal. |
| Deut 27:5-6 | "there you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones; you shall wield no iron tool..." | Specific instructions for the altar's construction. |
| Deut 27:8 | "And you shall write on the stones all the words of this law..." | Command to write the Law on plaster-coated stones there. |
| Exod 20:24-25 | "An altar of earth you shall make for me... If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones." | Principle of simple, uncut stone altars for the Lord. |
| Josh 1:7-8 | "Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law..." | Joshua's commission stressing unwavering obedience to God's Law. |
| Gen 12:7-8 | "Then the LORD appeared to Abram... So he built there an altar..." | Pattern of patriarchs building altars in response to divine revelation. |
| Gen 8:20 | "Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal..." | Building an altar as an act of worship and thanksgiving after deliverance. |
| Exod 24:3-8 | "Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD... Then he built an altar at the foot of the mountain..." | Covenant ratification with altar, sacrifice, and the reading of the Law. |
| Deut 11:29-30 | "when the LORD your God brings you into the land... you shall set the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal." | The foundational context of Mount Ebal for curses and covenant. |
| Deut 28:1-6 | "And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God..." | Promised blessings contingent upon Israel's obedience. |
| Lev 1:1-9 | "When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of livestock..." | Instructions for the offering of burnt sacrifices on the altar. |
| Ps 1:1-3 | "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked... but his delight is in the law of the LORD..." | Emphasizes the blessedness of meditating on and following God's Law. |
| Jas 1:22-25 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | The importance of actively living out God's word. |
| Matt 5:17-18 | "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law... I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." | Christ's perfect fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. |
| Jn 4:23-24 | "But the hour is coming... when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth..." | New Covenant emphasis on spiritual worship beyond physical locations/structures. |
| Heb 13:10 | "We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat." | Christ as the ultimate sacrifice, prefigured by the Old Testament altars. |
| Isa 43:1-3 | "For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." | Reinforces the unique identity of God as "the God of Israel." |
| 1 Sam 7:17 | "Then Samuel returned to Ramah... and there he built an altar to the LORD." | Another instance of a leader building an altar following national events. |
| Gen 35:1-7 | "Then God said to Jacob, 'Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there'... And Jacob built an altar there." | Building altars as a place for renewed covenant relationship. |
| Mal 3:6 | "For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed." | Highlights the enduring nature of "the God of Israel's" covenant with His people. |
| Col 2:16-17 | "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you... concerning a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ." | Old Covenant practices as shadows pointing to Christ, who is the substance. |
Joshua 8 verses
Joshua 8 30 Meaning
This verse records Joshua's immediate and obedient construction of an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, upon Mount Ebal. This act was not a spontaneous decision but a direct fulfillment of Moses' specific command in Deuteronomy 27:4-8. It signified a national rededication to God's covenant immediately after military conquest, emphasizing that God's presence and Law were central to their possession of the land.
Joshua 8 30 Context
Joshua chapter 8 opens with God’s renewed command for Israel to conquer Ai, assuring them of victory after their previous defeat due to Achan's sin. After a successful ambush and battle that resulted in the complete destruction of Ai and its king, the narrative immediately shifts from military conquest to spiritual devotion. Verses 30-35 describe Joshua’s direct fulfillment of Moses' instructions given in Deuteronomy 27:4-8 concerning the covenant renewal ceremony on Mount Ebal. This deliberate pause in the military campaign highlights Israel’s priority: allegiance to the Lord and obedience to His Law were paramount, preceding and enabling their successful occupation of the promised land.
Joshua 8 30 Word analysis
- Then Joshua built: The Hebrew וַיִּבֶן (Va-yiven), "and he built," implies an immediate consequence and action following the preceding victory. It emphasizes prompt and deliberate obedience to a prior divine command given through Moses (Deut 27). The leader, Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, Yehoshua, meaning "The Lord is salvation"), diligently carried out what God had commanded, demonstrating leadership by faithful adherence.
- an altar: The Hebrew מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach), derived from the root Z-B-H (to slaughter/sacrifice), signifies a consecrated place for offering sacrifices and entering communion with God. This was not a Canaanite high place, but a structure specifically prescribed by divine instruction (Deut 27:5-6; Josh 8:31): made of "whole," unhewn stones upon which "no tool of iron" was to be used. This symbolized purity, the unblemished work of God, and Israel's complete dependence on divine provision rather than human craft, standing in sharp contrast to the often elaborate and human-made altars of pagan worship.
- to the Lord, the God of Israel: "The Lord" is YHWH (יהוה), God's personal covenant name, highlighting His unique and exclusive relationship with His chosen people. "The God of Israel" (אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, Elohei Yisra'el) further distinguishes Him from all other gods of the nations and cults of Canaan. This altar was consecrated solely to Him, publicly affirming monotheism and Israel's exclusive covenant allegiance, marking them as distinct people belonging to this singular, powerful, and covenant-keeping God.
- on Mount Ebal: הַר עֵיבָל (Har Eival) is a specific mountain in central Canaan, directly opposite Mount Gerizim. Deuteronomy 11:29-30 designated Ebal as the place for pronouncing the curses of the Law, while Gerizim was for blessings. By building the altar and conducting the ceremony here (followed by writing the law on stones and reading it in subsequent verses), Israel was confronting the covenant in its fullest weight, acknowledging the serious consequences of disobedience and their foundational need for atonement and reconciliation through sacrifice in light of their transgressions. The strategic central location in Samaria ensured national significance and witness to this foundational act of worship and covenant affirmation.
Joshua 8 30 Bonus section
The command for this precise ceremony on Mount Ebal was given by Moses before Israel even crossed into the promised land (Deut 27). Joshua’s swift execution of this detailed command immediately after a significant victory against Ai powerfully demonstrates his leadership and absolute commitment to God's word above all else. This strategic pause in military activity was deeply significant; it reaffirmed to the people that their successes were not due to their own military prowess but by the power of the Lord and their faithfulness to Him. The selection of Ebal, famously associated with the curses of the Law (in stark contrast to Gerizim, the mountain of blessings), served as a solemn reminder of the gravity of God's Law and the dire consequences of disobedience. Simultaneously, the very presence of an altar there provided the essential means of atonement and reconciliation, highlighting that even in the shadow of judgment, God provides a way for His people to approach Him and renew covenant.
Joshua 8 30 Commentary
Joshua 8:30 marks a pivotal moment, occurring immediately after the decisive victory over Ai. Rather than pressing on with military campaigns, Joshua demonstrates exemplary leadership by prioritizing spiritual obedience. This act confirms that Israel’s success and the fulfillment of God’s promises were entirely contingent upon their faithful allegiance to His covenant and His Word. The construction of the altar on Mount Ebal, precisely as Moses had commanded, served as a profound public act of worship, a tangible symbol of Israel's renewed commitment to YHWH alone, and an affirmation of the foundational Law that governed their very existence in the promised land. It visually stood against pagan religious practices prevalent in Canaan and underscored that Israel's God was unique, and their relationship with Him demanded precise and complete obedience, not human innovation. This immediate adherence to the Law, even interrupting military operations, emphasizes a crucial biblical principle: divine blessing flows from unwavering submission to God's revealed will, placing Him at the absolute center of national and individual life.