Definition: As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up [any] iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Joshua 8:31. It’s a really important part of how God worked in the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, it describes a very specific and powerful act of worship. Here’s a breakdown of each part: “As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded…” – This tells us this is a command given by God to Moses. He was God's chosen leader. “…the children of Israel…” – This refers to the Israelites, who were enslaved in Egypt and were being led into a difficult situation. “as it is written in the book of the law of Moses…” – This emphasizes that this wasn’t just a random act; it was guided by God's laws and instructions given to Moses. The law was a set of rules for how to live righteously. “…an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up [any] iron:” – This is the key part! They built an enormous altar made entirely of stone. No one had ever lifted up any metal (like iron) on that altar. This was a huge display of faith and devotion. “…and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.” – They brought sacrifices to God – specifically, burning offerings (sacrifices) – and also gave away small gifts or offerings (peace offerings). What’s the point of this? It’s a really striking image. It shows that God was so confident in His people that He allowed them to offer something incredibly significant – a whole altar – without any metal being used. This symbolized: God’s absolute control: He didn't need human tools or methods to show his power and love. The purity of the offering: The lack of metal emphasized that their devotion was pure, sincere, and focused on God. It wasn't about what they could do, but about giving thanks to Him. In a nutshell, it’s a powerful story about God’s unwavering trust in His people and their willingness to offer complete devotion to Him. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of the story? Discuss the significance of this event in more detail?