Joshua 24:26-27
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Joshua explicitly states the stone "heard all the words of the LORD" spoken to them, suggesting it's not just a mute monument but a symbolic witness meant to stand in judgment if they break their covenant. By writing the covenant into the "Book of the Law of God," Joshua emphasizes that this agreement isn't a new decree but a reaffirmation of God's existing covenant and commands.
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. And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Fresh off renewing their covenant with God, Joshua solidifies this momentous agreement by recording it in the Book of the Law and setting up a large stone as a physical, visible reminder. This act serves as a tangible witness to the people's commitment, especially since it occurs near the sanctuary where God’s presence dwelled, and immediately precedes Joshua's death and a period of faithfulness that would later fade.
Joshua didn't just make a speech; he made sure God's words and the people's commitment would last. But how?
He used two powerful methods to make this covenant unforgettable.
Joshua's actions here are a masterclass in making a covenant stick. He first wrote the covenant's terms – 'these words' – into the existing 'Book of the Law of God.' This wasn't a new law, but an incorporation of the people's renewed commitment into the very foundation of God's revealed will.
Think of it like adding a crucial amendment to a foundational document.
Then, he set up a physical monument: a great stone placed under an oak tree near the sanctuary. This wasn't just a marker; it was a 'witness.' As one commentator put it, it was meant to be a constant, visible reminder, ensuring they wouldn't 'deny their God.' This stone was meant to stand as a tangible testament to God's faithfulness and Israel's promises, serving as a perpetual memorial to future generations.
Joshua declared the stone had 'heard all the words of the LORD.' How can a rock possibly hear?
This speaks volumes about the gravity of God's Word and the covenant.
Joshua's statement that the stone 'heard all the words of the LORD' is a powerful piece of biblical imagery, not meant to be taken literally. It's a hyperbole, an exaggeration for effect, to emphasize the absolute significance of God's commands and the covenant made.
This stone, placed near the sanctuary, was a silent, unmoving witness. It was meant to absorb and reflect the weight of the promises exchanged. If people were deaf to God's voice, the very stones would cry out as witnesses against their unfaithfulness.
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This imagery underscores that God's Word has an inherent power and authority that can pierce even the hardest of hearts and inanimate objects. It’s a stark reminder that our covenants and commitments before God are not trivial matters; they carry eternal weight.
Joshua established a monumental covenant, marked by sacred writings and a stone witness. But the text hints at a somber reality...
What happened to this sacred commitment?
The end of Joshua's life and leadership is marked by faithfulness, but the narrative immediately following casts a shadow. The text notes that 'Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua.' This highlights the crucial role leadership plays in maintaining covenant faithfulness.
However, the implication is clear: this period of steadfast service was not permanent. As those who had witnessed God’s mighty acts firsthand passed away, so too did the deep-rooted commitment. The solemn covenant and its physical reminders eventually faded in memory and practice.
This serves as a poignant reminder that faithfulness requires ongoing effort and vigilance, not just for individuals but for entire communities. Legacies are powerful, but they must be actively maintained and passed on.
Understand the original words
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.
ed · Hebrew Noun
An object or person that provides testimony or attestation to a covenant, agreement, or event, serving as a reminder of obligations and consequences.
kachash · Hebrew Verb
To act in a treacherous, unfaithful, or deceitful manner, specifically in the context of violating a covenant or betraying a commitment made to God or others.
The act of writing the covenant into the Book of the Law and setting up a stone monument at Shechem underscores the solemnity and permanence Joshua intended for Israel's commitment, serving as a tangible reminder of their sacred vows and God's enduring faithfulness, even as the narrative foreshadows future challenges to this covenant.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin their military campaign to conquer the land of Canaan, fulfilling God's promises made to Abraham.
c. 1375 BC
Division of the land
After the conquest, the land of Canaan is systematically divided among the twelve tribes of Israel as their inheritance, a process overseen by Joshua.
c. 1375 BC— this verse
Joshua convenes the tribes at Shechem
Joshua gathers all Israel, including elders, judges, and officials, at Shechem for a solemn assembly to renew their covenant with God. This is the setting for Joshua 24.
c. 1375 BC
Joshua's final address and covenant renewal
Joshua recounts God's faithfulness, challenges the people to choose whom they will serve, and leads them in a renewed commitment to God, sealing it with a public ceremony and a monument.
c. 1375 BC
Joshua writes covenant in Book of Law
Joshua records the details of the covenant ceremony and the people's commitment in the sacred Book of the Law of God, preserving it for future generations.
c. 1375 BC
Joshua sets up memorial stone
A great stone is erected under an oak tree near the sanctuary of the Lord as a physical witness to the covenant made between God and Israel at Shechem.
c. 1375 BC
Joshua dies
Shortly after the covenant renewal and establishing the memorial, Joshua, the faithful servant of the Lord, dies at the age of 110.
This passage describes Moses writing his words in a book and instructing the Levites to place it beside the ark, establishing a precedent for Joshua's action of recording significant covenantal events.
Genesis 35:4The mention of a great stone set up and potentially buried near Shechem connects to Jacob's earlier act of burying household gods under an oak, creating a symbolic continuity of significant acts occurring at a sacred site.
Exodus 24:4This passage details Moses building an altar and setting up twelve pillars representing the tribes of Israel after God's covenant, paralleling Joshua's use of a stone as a physical monument to a renewed covenant.
1 Samuel 7:12Samuel sets up a stone called Ebenezer after a victory, explicitly stating 'Thus far the LORD has helped us,' serving as a memorial that echoes Joshua's use of a stone to remember God's faithfulness and a covenant.
Joshua 4:3-7Immediately following the crossing of the Jordan, Joshua instructed the people to take stones and set them up as a memorial, stating 'When your children ask in the future... you shall tell them.'
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 24:26: "And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD."
Joshua 24:26 . Joshua wrote these words — Namely, this covenant, or agreement of the people with the Lord. In the book of the law of God — That is, in the volume which was kept in the ark, ( Deuteronomy 31:9 ; Deuteronomy 31:26 ,) whence it was taken and put into this book of Joshua; this he did for the perpetual remembrance…
Joshua explicitly states the stone "heard all the words of the LORD" spoken to them, suggesting it's not just a mute monument but a symbolic witness meant to stand in judgment if they break their covenant. By writing the covenant into the "Book of the Law of God," Joshua emphasizes that this agreement isn't a new decree but a reaffirmation of God's existing covenant and commands.
Fresh off renewing their covenant with God, Joshua solidifies this momentous agreement by recording it in the Book of the Law and setting up a large stone as a physical, visible reminder. This act serves as a tangible witness to the people's commitment, especially since it occurs near the sanctuary where God’s presence dwelled, and immediately precedes Joshua's death and a period of faithfulness that would later fade.
Fresh off renewing their covenant with God, Joshua solidifies this momentous agreement by recording it in the Book of the Law and setting up a large stone as a physical, visible reminder. This act serves as a tangible witness to the people's commitment, especially since it occurs near the sanctuary where God’s presence dwelled, and immediately precedes Joshua's death and a period of faithfulness that would later fade.
"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. And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness…" — Joshua explicitly states the stone "heard all the words of the LORD" spoken to them, suggesting it's not just a mute monument but a symbolic witness meant to stand in judgment if they break their cov…
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Last reviewed October 2026
