Joshua 8:34

“And afterwards he read all the words of the law, etc.] Not the whole Pentateuch, nor the whole book of Deuteronomy, but either some parts of it, the decalogue, or whatsoever he had written on the stones, and as follows: the blessings and cursings, according to all that was written in the book of the law; (<052714>Deuteronomy 27:14-26 28:1-6); (see Gill on “<052711>Deuteronomy 27:11”).”

“afterward he read all the words of the law--caused the priests or Levites to read it (Deu 27:14). Persons are often said in Scripture to do that which they only command to be done.”

“The account of this solemnity is very brief. An acquaintance with Deuteronomy 27:0 is evidently presupposed; and the three several acts of which the solemnity consisted are only so far distinctly named as is necessary to show that the commands of Moses there given were fully carried out by Joshua. It is difficult to escape the conviction that these verses are here out of their proper and original place. The connection between Joshua 8:29, and Joshua 9:1, is natural and obvious; and in Joshua 9:3, the fraud of the Gibeonites is represented as growing out of the alarm caused by the fall of Jericho and Ai. It is, moreover, extremely unlikely that a solemnity of this nature in the very center of…”

“Afterward - After the altar was built, and the stones plaistered and writ upon. He read - That is, he commanded the priests or Levites to read, Deu 27:14. Blessings and cursings - Which words came in not by way of explication, as if the words of the law were nothing else besides the blessings and curses; but by way of addition, to note that these were read over and above the words of the law. Joshua 8:35”

“8:34 blessings . . . curses: See Deut 27–28.”

“he read: Deu 31:10-12; Neh 8:2, Neh 8:3, Neh 9:3, Neh 13:1 blessings: Lev. 26:1-46; Deu 27:14-26, 28:1-68, Deu 29:20, Deu 29:21, Deu 30:15-20 Joshua 8:35”