Joshua 8:30
"Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,"

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal. As was commanded, Deu 27:5 . The Samaritan Chronicle says, it was built in Mount Gerizim; but there is a difficulty arises, when this was done by Joshua; it should seem by inserting the account here, that it was done immediately after the destruction of Ai; and Mercator endeavours to prove that Ebal was near to Ai, but what he has said does not give satisfaction; for certain it is,

that Ebal and Gerizim were near Shechem in Samaria, at a great distance from Ai, see Jdg 9:6 . The Jews (a) generally are of opinion, that this was done as soon as Israel, even the very day, they passed over Jordan, which they think the letter of the command required, Deu 11:29 ; though it does not, only that it should be done after they were passed over it; Ebal being at too great a distance from Jordan for them to accomplish it on that day, being, as they themselves say (b), sixty miles from Jordan; so that they are obliged to make Israel travel that day an hundred twenty miles, and as they assert they did (c) and which they must do, if what they say was true, it being sixty miles to Ebal, and sixty more to return again to Gilgal that night, where they encamped, but this is incredible: and as this account of Joshua's building the altar is too soon after he had passed Jordan, what R. Ishmael (d) has pitched upon is too late, who says this was not done till after fourteen years, when the land was conquered, which was seven years doing, and when it was divided, which were seven years more; what Josephus says (e) is more probable than either, which is, that Joshua, five years after he had entered Canaan, when he had placed the tabernacle at Shiloh, went from thence and built an altar at Ebal; as for what R. Eliezer suggests (f), that Ebal and Gerizim here mentioned are not the Ebal and Gerizim of the Samaritans, only two hills were made, and they were called by these names, cannot merit any belief or regard. (a) Misn. Sotah, c. 7. sect. 5. Seder Olam Rabba, c. 11. p. 30. Jarchi in loc. (b) T. Bab. Sotah, fol. 36. 1. (c) T. Hieros. Sotah, fol. 21. 3. (d) Apud ib. (e) Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 14. (f) In T. Hieros. Sotah, ut supra. (c))

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (9 words)

H0227 אָז
Definition:

a.of past time:— without a verbGenesis 12:6;Genesis 13:7;Joshua 14:11;2 Samuel 23:14; with a perfectGenesis 4:26;Exodus 4:26;Joshua 10:33;Judges 8:3;Judges 13:21;Jeremiah 22:15אָז טוֺב לוֺthenwas it w a.of past time:— without a verbGenesis 12:6;Genesis 13:7;Joshua 14:11;2 Samuel 23:14; with a perfectGenesis 4:26;Exodus 4:26;Joshua 10:33;Judges 8:3;Judges 13:21;Jeremiah 22:15אָז טוֺב לוֺthenwas it w

Possible Meanings:
  • at that time (semantic_range)
H1129 בָּנָה
Definition:

5+,בָּֽנְתָהProverbs 9:1;Proverbs 14:1,בָּנִיתָDeuteronomy 6:10,בָּנִתָה1 Kings 9:3;וּבָנִ֫יתָconsecutiveDeuteronomy 20:20+;בָּנִיתְEzekiel 16:25;בָּנִתִי1 Kings 8:13+; pluralבָּנוּGenesis 11:5+, etc. 5+,בָּֽנְתָהProverbs 9:1;Proverbs 14:1,בָּנִיתָDeuteronomy 6:10,בָּנִתָה1 Kings 9:3;וּבָנִ֫יתָconsecutiveDeuteronomy 20:20+;בָּנִיתְEzekiel 16:25;בָּנִתִי1 Kings 8:13+; pluralבָּנוּGenesis 11:5+, etc.

Possible Meanings:
  • build (semantic_range)
  • build (semantic_range)
  • be built (semantic_range)
H3091 יְהוֹשׁוּעַ
Definition:

21; onיֵשׁוּעַsee especially FräVOJ iv. 1890, 332 f.MüllSK 1892, 177 f.who cite analogue for change ofוֹto laterֵ֯, & Nesl.c.) —1Moses' successor, son of Nun, (ᵐ5Ἰησοῦς)יְהוֺשׁוּעַDeuteronomy 3:21;Jud 21; onיֵשׁוּעַsee especially FräVOJ iv. 1890, 332 f.MüllSK 1892, 177 f.who cite analogue for change ofוֹto laterֵ֯, & Nesl.c.) —1Moses' successor, son of Nun, (ᵐ5Ἰησοῦς)יְהוֺשׁוּעַDeuteronomy 3:21;Jud

Possible Meanings:
  • is salvation (semantic_range)
  • is opulence (semantic_range)
H4196 מִזְבֵּחַ
Definition:

10altar(Arabic,place of slaughter, trench made by torrent, SabeanמדֿבחDHMEpigr. Denkm. 24);׳מabsolute2 Kings 18:22223t.,הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָהExodus 29:1331t.; constructמִזְבַּחExodus 20:2476t., suffixמִזְבְּ 10altar(Arabic,place of slaughter, trench made by torrent, SabeanמדֿבחDHMEpigr. Denkm. 24);׳מabsolute2 Kings 18:22223t.,הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָהExodus 29:1331t.; constructמִזְבַּחExodus 20:2476t., suffixמִזְבְּ

H3068 יְהוָֹה
Definition:

7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when 7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when

Possible Meanings:
  • Yahweh (semantic_range)
  • the one bringing into being (semantic_range)
  • life-giver (semantic_range)
H0430 אֱלהִים
Definition:

33; on number of occurrences ofאֵל,אֱלוֺהַּ,אֱלֹהִיםcompare also Nesl. c,)1pluralin number.a.rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power 33; on number of occurrences ofאֵל,אֱלוֺהַּ,אֱלֹהִיםcompare also Nesl. c,)1pluralin number.a.rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

Possible Meanings:
  • divine ones (semantic_range)
  • angels (semantic_range)
  • gods (semantic_range)
H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵל
Definition:

16(Hpt); MI5, + 5 t.ישראל; in EgyptianY-si-r-'lSteindZAW xvi (1896), 331, compare BreastedBib. World ix (1897), 62 ff.PatonSyr. and Pal. 134; AssyrianSir-'-lai(=יִשְׂרְאֵלִי) SchrKG 356 ff., 364; COTG 16(Hpt); MI5, + 5 t.ישראל; in EgyptianY-si-r-'lSteindZAW xvi (1896), 331, compare BreastedBib. World ix (1897), 62 ff.PatonSyr. and Pal. 134; AssyrianSir-'-lai(=יִשְׂרְאֵלִי) SchrKG 356 ff., 364; COTG

Possible Meanings:
  • Israel (semantic_range)
H2022 הַר
Definition:

26, readהוֺרֵיעָֿד; but betterהַרֲרֵיעַֿדeverlasting mountains, seeהַרbelowהרר.הַר558noun masculineGenesis 7:19mountain, hill, hill-country(Late Hebrewid., pluralהָרִים,הֲרָרִים; PhoenicianהרCISi. 3, 26, readהוֺרֵיעָֿד; but betterהַרֲרֵיעַֿדeverlasting mountains, seeהַרbelowהרר.הַר558noun masculineGenesis 7:19mountain, hill, hill-country(Late Hebrewid., pluralהָרִים,הֲרָרִים; PhoenicianהרCISi. 3,

H5858 עֵיבָל
Definition:

Perhaps from an unused root probably meaning to be bald; bare; Ebal, a mountain of Palestine -- Ebal.Topical LexiconBiblical Occurrences and Contexts1. Genealogical:Genesis 36:23and1 Chronicles 1:40li Perhaps from an unused root probably meaning to be bald; bare; Ebal, a mountain of Palestine -- Ebal.Topical LexiconBiblical Occurrences and Contexts1. Genealogical:Genesis 36:23and1 Chronicles 1:40li

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