Joshua 8:29-32

Contemporary English Version

^28-29Joshua made sure every building in Ai was burned to the ground. He told his men to kill the king of Ai and hang his body on a tree. Then at sunset he told the Israelites to take down the body,^[a] throw it in the gateway of the town, and cover it with a big pile of rocks. Those rocks are still there, and the town itself has never been rebuilt.

Joshua Reads the Blessings and Curses

(Deuteronomy 27.1-26)

^30-32^(A) One day, Joshua led the people of Israel to Mount Ebal, where he told some of his men, “Build an altar for offering sacrifices to the Lord. And use stones that have never been cut with iron tools,^[b] because that is what Moses taught in The Book of the Law.”^[c]

Joshua offered sacrifices to please the Lord^[d] and to ask his blessing.^[e] Then with the Israelites still watching, he copied parts of The Book of the Law^[f] of Moses onto stones.

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Footnotes

8.28,29 take down the body: See Deuteronomy 21.22,23.
8.30-32 use stones … iron tools: See Exodus 20.25.
8.30-32 taught … Law: Or “commanded … Teachings.”
8.30-32 sacrifices to please the Lord: These sacrifices have been traditionally called “whole burnt offerings” because the whole animal was burned on the altar. A main purpose of such sacrifices was to please the Lord with the smell of the sacrifice, and so in the CEV they are often called “sacrifices to please the Lord.”
8.30-32 to ask his blessing: These sacrifices have traditionally been called “peace offerings,” or “offerings of well-being.” A main purpose was to ask for the Lord's blessing, and so in the CEV they are often called “sacrifices to ask the Lord's blessing.”
8.30-32 Law: Or “Teachings.”