All things bear record · Joshua

Joshua 8

0 witnesses of Christ here, and 3 further echoes from the reading.

Jehovah

And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land: Joshua 8:1

After Israel repents, Jehovah speaks comfort again and restores His promise of victory.

A readingJehovah — the LORDHe speaks in the first person
  • alludes to Joshua 1:9 — The same 'be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed' charge.

Hanged on a tree

And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day. Joshua 8:29

Joshua obeys the law that one hanged on a tree must be taken down before night because he is under a curse. The New Testament applies that law to Jesus, who took the curse on Himself by hanging on the cross, and whose body was taken down before sunset.

A readingEchoAn echo of Him
  • alludes to Deuteronomy 21:22-23 — The law that a hanged body not remain on the tree all night.
  • alluded to by Galatians 3:13 — Christ became a curse for us: 'Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.'

Sacrifice as similitude of the Only Begotten

Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal, Joshua 8:30–31

In the land at last, Israel's first act of worship is sacrifice to the LORD God of Israel on an altar untouched by human tools. From Adam onward such sacrifices were a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, and peace offerings pictured the peace His Atonement brings.

A readingProphecy or typeAn ordinance that points to Him
  • fulfils Deuteronomy 27:4-7 — Moses commanded an altar of whole stones with no iron on Mount Ebal, with burnt and peace offerings.
  • interpreted by Moses 5:7 — 'This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father.'