“Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings. There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses.”-Joshua 8:30-32
These closing verses of Joshua 8 carry with them a major problem!
“What might that be?” you ask.
Well, here’s the deal.
Following the slaughter and utter destruction of the City of Ai, Israel is now situated in Gilgal where they would be staying for quite some time.
However, Ebal (and Gerizim) where we’re told this ceremony took place was a whopping 12 miles northward of Ai and Beit-el.
So there’s no way in hell that Israel broke camp at Gilgal, trekked for 3 days northward, held this ceremony and then had the energy to head back to Gilgal (another 3 day journey).
It just ain’t possible folks.
I know what you’re thinking.
If the events chronicled here in Joshua Chapter 8 are not in the correct order, when exactly did this ceremony at Ebal and Gerizim occur?
The answer is NOBODY KNOWS.
That’s right homies.
It’s anybody’s guess and even the ancient Rabbis agree that this event is NOT placed in proper chronological order here.
This event is actually the fulfillment of these instructions Moses gave to Joshua in Deuteronomy Chapter 27.
“When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey,just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster. Build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them.“-Deuteronomy 27:2-3
Recall that Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim were twin hills with Ebal being located to the north of Gerizim.
Joshua was to build an altar and then be extra careful to make sure that no man-made iron tools were used to shape the stones.
Only the natural flint knives were to be used.
Because there are just some things where God prohibits manmade objects from touching his works of nature.
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