MPV Commentary

The King Hanged.

The king of Ai was hanged on a tree until evening, a gruesome display meant to strike terror into the hearts of other chiefs and leaders in the land. This public execution was a demonstration of God's justice being carried out by His people, as required by divine law (Deuteronomy 20:16-18). The Israelites were obligated to put enemy leaders to death, and this act would serve as a warning to others who might resist their conquest.

After the king's body had been left hanging until sunset, it was taken down and buried in a pit at the entrance of the city gate. This was done according to God's command (Deuteronomy 21:23), and it marked the spot where the infamous leader met his end. A large stone monument was erected over his grave, a common practice in ancient times that served as a reminder of the person's notoriety.

Joshua Builds an Altar.

Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord God of Israel on Mount Ebal (Deuteronomy 27:11). This location was about twenty miles from Ai, and it would have been a significant undertaking for the people to travel there, especially given their recent victory. However, with God's blessing, they were able to accomplish this task without incident.

The construction of an altar on Mount Ebal was a solemn duty that had been assigned to the Israelites (Deuteronomy 27:2). Joshua seems to have deliberately led them through the mountainous region to reach this spot, where they could fulfill their obligation. The instructions for building an altar were given to Moses (Exodus 20:25; Deuteronomy 27:5), and it was to be constructed from whole stones.

No iron tools were used in the construction of this altar, as every true altar should be built with earthy materials (Exodus 20:24). The use of rough, unhewn stones helped to maintain the appearance and nature of an earth-based altar. This was significant because every sacrifice involved bloodshed and death, which brought humans back to their earthly state.

On this altar, the Israelites offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord (Exodus 24:5). These rituals had been performed when the covenant was first established, and by repeating them now, they were renewing their commitment to God. The people were reconciled to Him through the burnt offering, and the accompanying feast allowed for a joyful communion with God among all the families of Israel.

Joshua wrote a copy of the law of Moses on stone pillars near the altar (Deuteronomy 27:2-5). This included the blessings and curses contained in the law. Some believe that these stones were part of the altar itself, but it seems more likely that separate pillars were erected alongside the altar to display this inscription.

All Israel gathered around the ark, with their elders, officers, and judges standing on either side (Deuteronomy 27:11). The Levites stood before the priests in full view. Joshua then read aloud all the words of the law, as instructed by Moses (Deuteronomy 27:14).

Joshua carefully followed every instruction given to him by Moses, including reading a substantial portion of the law on this occasion (Deuteronomy 4:44; 6:9; 27:8). This was not written on the stones but rather on plaster. The purpose of this public reading was primarily for posterity, as it would be recorded in the Book of Joshua and other historical documents.

The scene on Mount Ebal must have been awe-inspiring, with the people's eyes and ears being addressed simultaneously. It left a lasting impression on those who witnessed it, especially given their recent victories in the Promised Land. The memory of this event would likely be cherished by future generations as they looked back on the striking scene that took place on Mounts Ebal and Gerizim in the Vale of Sychar.