just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: "an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool has been used." And on it they offered burnt offerings to the LORD, and they sacrificed peace offerings. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 8:31? 2. How does Joshua 8:31 emphasize obedience to God's commands through Moses? 3. Why is building an altar of uncut stones significant in Joshua 8:31? 4. What connections exist between Joshua 8:31 and Exodus 20:25 regarding altars? 5. How can we apply the principle of obedience from Joshua 8:31 today? 6. What does Joshua 8:31 teach about worship and reverence in our lives? 7. How does Joshua 8:31 align with God's instructions to Moses in Exodus 20:25? 8. Why was an altar of uncut stones significant in Joshua 8:31? 9. What does Joshua 8:31 reveal about Israelite worship practices? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 8? 11. What is the significance of Mount Ebal? 12. What is the Documentary Hypothesis? 13. What is The Pentateuch? 14. When was Exodus written? Discussion Questions 1. How does Joshua's obedience in building the altar according to the Law of Moses challenge us in our daily obedience to God's Word?2. What is the significance of using uncut stones for the altar, and how can this principle be applied to maintaining purity in our worship today? 3. In what ways do the burnt offerings and peace offerings in Joshua 8:31 foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ? 4. How can we, as a community of believers, ensure that our worship remains centered on God's instructions and not on human traditions? 5. Reflect on a time when you had to trust in God's promises despite challenges. How does the continuity of God's covenant with Israel encourage you in your faith journey?1. What does God's encouragement to Joshua - "Do not be afraid or discouraged" - signify in this context? How can it be applied to personal challenges today? 2. What is the significance of God allowing the Israelites to take the plunder and livestock from Ai, contrasting to the complete destruction in Jericho? 3. How did Joshua's strategy of ambush reflect his obedience and trust in God's plan? 4. In what ways do the military tactics described in the passage illustrate spiritual warfare that believers might experience today? 5. What does the "battle lance" that Joshua holds out toward Ai symbolize? 6. What does the act of leaving the city of Ai "wide open" while pursuing Israel tell us about the tactics of deception used in this battle? 7. How did God’s instruction to Joshua to "hold out your battle lance" act as a catalyst for the victory? What significance does this hold? 8. How does the story highlight the importance of precision in following God’s commands? 9. Why do you think Joshua built an altar to the LORD after the destruction of Ai? 10. How do the blessings and curses read aloud by Joshua relate to the outcomes for Jericho and Ai? 11. How can the ambush strategy employed by the Israelites be interpreted from a spiritual perspective? 12. How does the disposal of the king of Ai's body and the creation of a permanent heap of ruins serve as a potent symbol in the narrative? 13. Why was it important that Joshua inscribed a copy of the law of Moses on stones after the battle? 14. How does the final scene of the reading of the law to the assembly of Israel underscore the significance of the law in the life of the nation? 15. Why did the author emphasize that there was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua failed to read? 16. How do we see God’s judgment and mercy played out in the battle of Ai? 17. What lessons can we learn from the way Joshua led the people of Israel in this battle? 18. How can the construction of an altar of uncut stones, "on which no iron tool has been used," be interpreted in the context of worship and sacrifice? 19. How can we apply the principle of full obedience as seen in this passage to our current life situations? 20. How does the ending of this passage, involving the public reading of the law, stress the importance of communal worship and instruction in faith communities today? Links Joshua 8:31 NIVJoshua 8:31 NLT Joshua 8:31 ESV Joshua 8:31 NASB Joshua 8:31 KJV Joshua 8:31 Commentaries Bible Hub |



