Joshua 24:25-26
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It's easy to see this as just Joshua setting down rules. But the Hebrew word translated as "statute" and "ordinance" here can also mean "custom" or "instruction." So, Joshua isn't just dictating laws; he's establishing a way of life, a patterned instruction on how to live out their covenant with God, making their commitment tangible and practical for generations.
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem. And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Having just received the people's enthusiastic pledge to serve the Lord, Joshua seals this commitment by establishing a covenant with them at Shechem, formalizing their agreement with specific laws and statutes. This climactic act occurs just before Joshua and the elders who knew God's works die, marking a crucial moment of spiritual dedication for Israel before a generation with less direct experience of God's power takes over. The burial of Joseph's bones nearby underscores the long history and land inheritance that this covenant secures.
Joshua wasn't just renewing an old contract; he was sealing a commitment that would define Israel's future. What does a 'covenant' truly entail?
In Joshua 24:25, the making of a "covenant" signifies a profound, public commitment. It wasn't merely a verbal agreement, but a solemn pact often sealed with sacrifices and witnesses, as hinted by the allusion to "cutting" a covenant.
A Binding Agreement
This covenant was a formal ratification of Israel's pledge to serve the Lord exclusively. It was designed to "bind themselves and their posterity unto God for ever," creating a lasting legacy of faithfulness.
Witness to God's Word
This commitment wasn't just between the people and Joshua, but before God. The subsequent actions described in the chapter—setting up a stone as a witness—underscore that this covenant was a sacred act in God's presence, intended to prevent future denial of their commitment.
A covenant needs more than just good intentions. Joshua institutes "statutes and rules." What was the purpose of these divine instructions?
The "statutes and rules" that Joshua set in place were not new laws, but the established Law of Moses. This emphasizes that the covenant was anchored in God's existing Word.
The Law as Foundation
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Joshua wasn't introducing a fresh set of commands but reinforcing the divine precepts that defined Israel's relationship with God. This meant adhering to both the moral and ceremonial laws revealed at Sinai.
Defining Righteousness
These statutes and rules provided the practical framework for obedience. They were the "precept and judgment" that guided Israel in serving God, ensuring their commitment was expressed through concrete actions, not just abstract devotion.
Why Shechem? This city becomes the backdrop for a pivotal moment. What does its choice signify for Israel's spiritual journey?
The choice of Shechem as the place for this covenant-making is deeply significant. It was a place associated with key moments in Israel's history, making it a potent symbol for this final act of commitment.
A Land of Promise
Shechem was one of the first places the Israelites occupied in the Promised Land, and it was here that Jacob had encountered God and established an altar (Genesis 33:18-20). It represented the fulfillment of God's promise to give them land.
A Memorial for the Future
By establishing the covenant and its statutes in Shechem, Joshua created a lasting physical and spiritual memorial. The subsequent erection of a great stone (Joshua 24:26-27) served as a tangible reminder, a witness to future generations of Israel's solemn vow to serve the Lord, even as the bones of Joseph were also buried there, linking the past, present, and future of God's people.
Understand the original words
berit · Hebrew Noun
A formal, binding agreement or treaty between parties, often initiated by God with His people, establishing mutual obligations and promises within a relationship.
choq · Hebrew Noun
Established laws, decrees, or mandates given by God, serving as the objective standards for behavior and life within the covenant community.
torah · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the Pentateuch or the Mosaic covenant stipulations; it signifies the authoritative, revealed will of God for His people's conduct and relationship with Him.
elah · Hebrew Noun
A large tree, often used as a landmark or a site for significant religious or judicial gatherings in the Ancient Near East, symbolizing longevity and stability.
miqdash · Hebrew Noun
A holy, set-apart place where God's presence dwells or where His people gather for authorized worship; it signifies the meeting place between the holy God and His people.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, representing His faithfulness, holiness, and active presence in history and with His people.
This covenant renewal at Shechem marks a pivotal moment at the close of Joshua's leadership, aiming to secure Israel's long-term faithfulness to God in the newly conquered land.
c. 1400 BC
Israel Enters and Conquers Canaan
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and began the conquest of Canaan, establishing their presence in the land.
c. 1390 BC
Land Allotment to Tribes
After the conquest, Joshua oversaw the division and allotment of the land of Canaan among the twelve tribes of Israel according to God's command.
c. 1380 BC
Joshua's Final Years and Counsel
As Joshua aged, he gathered the elders and leaders of Israel to deliver final instructions and warnings about remaining faithful to God.
c. 1375 BC— this verse
Covenant Renewal at Shechem
Joshua convened the people at Shechem to renew their covenant with God, reaffirming their commitment to His laws and statutes.
c. 1375 BC
Joshua and Elders Pass Away
Shortly after the covenant renewal, Joshua died and was buried, followed by the generation of elders who had witnessed God's mighty acts.
c. 1375 BC - 1300 BC
Period of Initial Israelite Loyalty
Following Joshua's death, the generation that remembered his leadership and God's faithfulness remained devoted to serving the Lord.
This passage describes a similar covenant-making ceremony where the people are established as God's people, highlighting the foundational importance of such solemn agreements for future generations.
1 Kings 18:21Elijah's confrontation with the Israelites on Mount Carmel about choosing between Yahweh and Baal echoes Joshua's challenge to the people, emphasizing the critical need to commit to one God.
Nehemiah 9:38This passage records a later covenant made by the people of Israel, demonstrating a recurring pattern of recommitting to God's laws and statutes after periods of disobedience or exile.
2 Chronicles 15:12-13This describes King Asa making a covenant to seek the Lord and put away idolatry, showing how solemn vows and statutes were enacted to ensure faithfulness to God, much like Joshua's action.
calvinJoshua 24:25-33: "So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem."
And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it has heard all the words of the LORD which he spoke unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest you deny your God.
Dixitque Josue ad universum populum, En lapis iste erit nobis in testimonium: ipse enim audivit omnia verba Jehovae quae loquutus est nobiscum, eritqu…
bensonJoshua 24:25: "So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem."
Joshua 24:25 . So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day — Engaged them to make good this solemn profession, by renewing the covenant they had formerly entered into, both in the days of Moses and in his time, wherein they promised to worship God alone, and be obedient to him. Some think this covenant was now established by sacrifice, as it was when they came out of Eg…
It's easy to see this as just Joshua setting down rules. But the Hebrew word translated as "statute" and "ordinance" here can also mean "custom" or "instruction." So, Joshua isn't just dictating laws; he's establishing a way of life, a patterned instruction on how to live out their covenant with God, making their commitment tangible and practical for generations.
Having just received the people's enthusiastic pledge to serve the Lord, Joshua seals this commitment by establishing a covenant with them at Shechem, formalizing their agreement with specific laws and statutes. This climactic act occurs just before Joshua and the elders who knew God's works die, marking a crucial moment of spiritual dedication for Israel before a generation with less direct experience of God's power takes over. The burial of Joseph's bones nearby underscores the long history and land inheritance that this covenant secures.
Having just received the people's enthusiastic pledge to serve the Lord, Joshua seals this commitment by establishing a covenant with them at Shechem, formalizing their agreement with specific laws and statutes. This climactic act occurs just before Joshua and the elders who knew God's works die, marking a crucial moment of spiritual dedication for Israel before a generation with less direct experience of God's power takes over. The burial of Joseph's bones nearby underscores the long history and land inheritance that this covenant secures.
"So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem. And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth that…" — It's easy to see this as just Joshua setting down rules. But the Hebrew word translated as "statute" and "ordinance" here can also mean "custom" or "instruction." So, Joshua isn't just dictating laws…
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Last reviewed October 2026
