And there in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua inscribed on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 8:32? 2. How does Joshua 8:32 emphasize the importance of obeying God's law today? 3. Why was it significant for Joshua to write the law on stones? 4. How can we ensure God's Word is central in our community like Joshua 8:32? 5. What connections exist between Joshua 8:32 and Deuteronomy's emphasis on God's commandments? 6. How can we practically "write" God's laws in our hearts and lives? 7. What is the significance of Joshua 8:32 in the context of Israel's covenant with God? 8. How does Joshua 8:32 demonstrate the importance of written law in ancient Israelite society? 9. Why did Joshua write a copy of the law on stones in Joshua 8:32? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 8? 11. What is the significance of Mount Ebal? 12. Does the command in Deuteronomy 27:8 to write the Law “very clearly” imply a significant difference from earlier recordings of the Law? 13. Why does Deuteronomy 27:4 specify Mount Ebal for the altar instead of Mount Gerizim, and is there any historical or textual contradiction behind this location? 14. How does Joshua's altar-building on Mount Ebal (Joshua 8:30-35) align with other historical records of Canaanite territory? Discussion Questions 1. How does Joshua's obedience in inscribing the law on stones challenge us in our daily walk with God?2. In what ways can we ensure that God's Word remains central in our lives, similar to how it was for the Israelites? 3. How can we incorporate regular covenant renewal practices in our spiritual lives today? 4. What are some practical ways we can be public witnesses of our faith in our communities? 5. How can we create personal memorials or reminders of God's faithfulness in our lives, and what might these look like?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 8:32 NIVJoshua 8:32 NLT Joshua 8:32 ESV Joshua 8:32 NASB Joshua 8:32 KJV Joshua 8:32 Commentaries Bible Hub |



