Joshua 8:33
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.
And all Israel {H3478}, and their elders {H2205}, and officers {H7860}, and their judges {H8199}, stood {H5975} on this side the ark {H727} and on that side before the priests {H3548} the Levites {H3881}, which bare {H5375} the ark {H727} of the covenant {H1285} of the LORD {H3068}, as well the stranger {H1616}, as he that was born {H249} among them; half {H2677} of them over {H413} against {H4136} mount {H2022} Gerizim {H1630}, and half {H2677} of them over against {H4136} mount {H2022} Ebal {H5858}; as Moses {H4872} the servant {H5650} of the LORD {H3068} had commanded {H6680} before {H7223}, that they should bless {H1288} the people {H5971} of Israel {H3478}.
Then all Isra'el, including their leaders, officials and judges, stood on either side of the ark in front of the cohanim, who were L'vi'im and who carried the ark for the covenant of ADONAI. The foreigners were there along with the citizens. Half of the people were in front of Mount G'rizim and half of them in front of Mount 'Eival, as Moshe the servant of ADONAI had ordered them earlier in connection with blessing the people of Isra'el.
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.
And all Israel, and their elders and officers, and their judges, stood on this side of the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, as well the sojourner as the home-born; half of them in front of mount Gerizim, and half of them in front of mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of Jehovah had commanded at the first, that they should bless the people of Israel.
Cross-References
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Deuteronomy 11:29 (7 votes)
And it shall come to pass, when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal. -
Deuteronomy 31:12 (5 votes)
Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that [is] within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: -
Deuteronomy 31:9 (4 votes)
ΒΆ And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel. -
Deuteronomy 27:11 (4 votes)
ΒΆ And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, -
Deuteronomy 27:14 (4 votes)
And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, -
Joshua 3:3 (3 votes)
And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. -
Exodus 12:49 (3 votes)
One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Commentary
Context of Joshua 8:33
Joshua 8:33 describes a pivotal moment in Israel's history, occurring immediately after the conquest of Ai and before the subsequent campaigns in Canaan. This verse details the fulfillment of a specific command given by Moses to the Israelites before his death. The assembly took place in the valley between two prominent mountains, Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, near Shechem. This location was strategically significant, as it was centrally located in the Promised Land and served as a natural amphitheater for such a grand public ceremony. The event underscored Israel's commitment to the covenant with the LORD as they entered the land.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "ark of the covenant of the LORD" (Hebrew: aron habberith Yehovah) is a powerful descriptor, emphasizing the sacred chest as a symbol of God's binding agreement with Israel. The term "stranger" (Hebrew: ger) refers to a resident alien, a non-Israelite living within the Israelite community. Its inclusion here is significant, showing that covenant responsibilities and blessings extended beyond ethnic lineage to all who joined the community and submitted to its laws.
Practical Application and Significance
Joshua 8:33 offers timeless lessons for believers today:
Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.