SEV Biblia, Chapter 24:27
Y dijo Josué a todo el pueblo: He aquí esta piedra será entre nosotros por testigo, la cual ha oído todas las palabras del SEÑOR que él ha hablado con nosotros; será, pues, testigo contra vosotros, para que por ventura no mintáis contra vuestro Dios.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Joshua 24:27
Verse 27. This stone-hath heard all the words] That is, the stone itself, from its permanency, shall be in all succeeding ages as competent and as substantial a witness as one who had been present at the transaction, and heard all the words which on both sides were spoken on the occasion.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 27. And Joshua said unto all the people , etc.] The chief of them now gathered together, and who represented the whole body: behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us ; of the covenant now made, and the agreement entered into, as the heap of stones were between Jacob and Laban, ( Genesis 31:45-47); for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us ; this is said by a figure called “prosopopaeia”, frequent in Scripture, by which inanimate creatures are represented as hearing, seeing, and speaking, and may signify, that should the Israelites break this covenant, and disobey the commands of the Lord they had promised to keep, they would be as stupid and senseless as this stone, or more so, which would rise in judgment against them. Nachmanides a Jewish commentator, interprets this stone of the Messiah, the same as in ( Genesis 49:24 <19B822> Psalm 118:22 Zechariah 3:8,9); it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God ; for a memorial and testimony to prevent them from going into atheism, a denying of the true God, or into apostasy from him, and into idolatry and false worship. The Targum of which is, “behold, this stone shall be to us as the two tables of stone of the covenant, for we made it for a testimony; for the words which are written upon it are the sum of all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us, and it shall be unto you for a memorial, and for a testimony, lest ye lie before the Lord.”
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-28 - It is essential that the service of God's people be performed with willing mind. For LOVE is the only genuine principle whence all acceptable service of God can spring. The Father seeks only such to worship him, as worship him in spirit and in truth. The carnal mind of man is enmity against God, therefore, is not capable of such spiritual worship. Hence the necessity of being born again. But numbers rest in mere forms, as tasks imposed upon them. Joshua puts them to their choice; but not as if it were indifferent whether they served God of not. Choose you whom ye will serve, now the matter is laid plainl before you. He resolves to do this, whatever others did. Those that ar bound for heaven, must be willing to swim against the stream. They mus not do as the most do, but as the best do. And no one can behav himself as he ought in any station, who does not deeply consider his religious duties in family relations. The Israelites agree with Joshua being influenced by the example of a man who had been so great blessing to them; We also will serve the Lord. See how much good grea men do, by their influence, if zealous in religion. Joshua brings the to express full purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord. They must com off from all confidence in their own sufficiency, else their purpose would be in vain. The service of God being made their deliberat choice, Joshua binds them to it by a solemn covenant. He set up monument of it. In this affecting manner Joshua took his last leave of them; if they perished, their blood would be upon their own heads Though the house of God, the Lord's table, and even the walls and tree before which we have uttered our solemn purposes of serving him, woul bear witness against us if we deny him, yet we may trust in him, tha he will put his fear into our hearts, that we shall not depart from him. God alone can give grace, yet he blesses our endeavours to engag men to his service.
Original Hebrew
ויאמר 559 יהושׁע 3091 אל 413 כל 3605 העם 5971 הנה 2009 האבן 68 הזאת 2063 תהיה 1961 בנו לעדה 5713 כי 3588 היא 1931 שׁמעה 8085 את 853 כל 3605 אמרי 561 יהוה 3068 אשׁר 834 דבר 1696 עמנו 5973 והיתה 1961 בכם לעדה 5713 פן 6435 תכחשׁון 3584 באלהיכם׃ 430
