What is the meaning of Joshua 24:26? Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God • Joshua, Moses’ successor, doesn’t rely on oral tradition alone; he “recorded these things” so the covenant renewal at Shechem would be permanently preserved, much as Moses had written God’s words in Exodus 17:14 and Deuteronomy 31:9, 24–26. • Calling the scroll “the Book of the Law of God” roots Joshua’s narrative inside the inspired Scriptures and affirms its equal authority with the Pentateuch (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16). • The act reminds Israel that obedience is tethered to a written, unchanging revelation, echoing the charge in Joshua 1:8 to “meditate on it day and night.” • By updating the Book, Joshua shows that God’s redemptive story is ongoing and that every generation is accountable to know and obey what has been written (Romans 15:4). Then he took a large stone • Tangible memorials were a common biblical way to reinforce spiritual commitments; earlier examples include Jacob’s pillar at Bethel (Genesis 28:18) and the twelve stones from the Jordan (Joshua 4:7). • A “large” stone underscores permanence and visibility; it could not be casually ignored. • The stone functions as a silent witness to the vows just made (cf. 1 Samuel 7:12, where Samuel raises the Ebenezer stone). Its unchanging presence would remind future generations that their ancestors pledged wholehearted loyalty to the LORD (Joshua 24:22). • Physical reminders help safeguard against forgetfulness and drift, a principle echoed in the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:24–26). Set it up there under the oak that was near the sanctuary of the LORD • Shechem’s oak had historical resonance—Abram built an altar there when God first promised the land (Genesis 12:6–7), and Jacob buried foreign idols under an oak at Shechem (Genesis 35:4). • Placing the stone “near the sanctuary of the LORD” links the people’s oath to the very presence of God; the tabernacle was apparently stationed at Shechem for this covenant ceremony (compare Deuteronomy 12:5). • Oaks are long-lived; combining a durable tree with a sturdy stone underscores that God’s covenant and Israel’s responsibility endure. • The location situates their promise within worship, not mere civic duty; every future visit to that sanctuary would confront Israel with the stone’s silent testimony (Joshua 24:27). summary Joshua 24:26 shows Israel’s covenant renewal being sealed in two complementary ways: by written Scripture and by a visible stone witness. Recording the event in “the Book of the Law of God” affirms the authority and permanence of God’s Word, while erecting the stone beneath the historic oak near the sanctuary embeds their promise in the landscape of worship. Together these acts declare that obedience to the LORD must be remembered, recorded, and lived out before His enduring presence. |
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