Chapter 8

1And the Lord said to Joshua, Fear not, and be not dismayed; take all the people of war with you and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land.   אוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֚ה אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ אַל־תִּירָ֣א וְאַל־תֵּחָ֔ת קַ֣ח עִמְּךָ֗ אֵ֚ת כָּל־עַ֣ם הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְק֖וּם עֲלֵ֣ה הָעָ֑י רְאֵ֣ה | נָתַ֣תִּי בְיָֽדְךָ֗ אֶת־מֶ֚לֶךְ הָעַי֙ וְאֶת־עַמּ֔וֹ וְאֶת־עִיר֖וֹ וְאֶת־אַרְצֽוֹ:
2And you shall do to Ai and its king, as you did to Jericho and its king; only its spoil and its cattle you shall take as spoils to yourselves. Set yourself ambush for the city behind it.   בוְעָשִֹ֨יתָ לָעַ֜י וּלְמַלְכָּ֗הּ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֚ר עָשִֹ֙יתָ֙ לִֽירִיח֣וֹ וּלְמַלְכָּ֔הּ רַק־שְׁלָלָ֥הּ וּבְהֶמְתָּ֖הּ תָּבֹ֣זּוּ לָכֶ֑ם שִׂים־לְךָ֥ אֹרֵ֛ב לָעִ֖יר מֵאַֽחֲרֶֽיהָ:
only you shall take as spoils to yourselves. do not cause the spoils to be “cherem” [doomed] anymore [as you did in Jericho].   תָּבֹזּוּ לָכֶם.  וְאַל תַּחֲרִימוּ הַשָּׁלָל עוֹד.
3And Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai; and Joshua chose thirty thousand mighty men of valor, and sent them away by night.   גוַיָּ֧קָם יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ וְכָל־עַ֥ם הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה לַעֲל֣וֹת הָעָ֑י וַיִּבְחַ֣ר יְ֠הוֹשֻׁ֠עַ שְׁלשִׁ֨ים אֶ֚לֶף אִישׁ֙ גִּבּוֹרֵ֣י הַחַ֔יִל וַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֖ם לָֽיְלָה:
4And he commanded them, saying, Behold you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city; do not go very far from the city, and all of you be ready.   דוַיְצַ֨ו אֹתָ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר רְא֠וּ אַתֶּ֞ם אֹֽרְבִ֚ים לָעִיר֙ מֵאַֽחֲרֵ֣י הָעִ֔יר אַל־תַּרְחִ֥יקוּ מִן־הָעִ֖יר מְאֹ֑ד וִֽהְיִיתֶ֥ם כֻּלְּכֶ֖ם נְכֹנִֽים:
5And I, and all the people that are with me, will draw near to the city; and it shall be when they come out against us, as at first, that we will flee before them.   הוַֽאֲנִ֗י וְכָל־הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתִּ֔י נִקְרַ֖ב אֶל־הָעִ֑יר וְהָיָ֗ה כִּי־יֵֽצְא֚וּ לִקְרָאתֵ֙נוּ֙ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֔ה וְנַ֖סְנוּ לִפְנֵיהֶֽם:
6And they will come out after us until we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at first. And we will flee before them.   ווְיָֽצְא֣וּ אַֽחֲרֵ֗ינוּ עַ֣ד הַתִּיקֵ֚נוּ אוֹתָם֙ מִן־הָעִ֔יר כִּ֣י יֹֽאמְר֔וּ נָסִ֣ים לְפָנֵ֔ינוּ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה וְנַ֖סְנוּ לִפְנֵיהֶֽם:
we have drawn them out. Heb. הַתִּיֵקְנוּ, an expression of תִּיק, a sheath, i.e., until we have taken them out of the sheath [the protection afforded them by the fortifications of] the city. Defourrer in Fr. [to unsheathe, from fourreau, a sheath]. We may also interpret it as an expression of נְתִיקָה, drawing out, as: Draw them out like flocks to the slaughter.   הַתִּיקֵנוּ אוֹתָם.  לְשׁוֹן תִּיק, שֶׁנּוֹצִיאֵם מִתִּיק הָעִיר, דישפורי"ר בְּלַעַז (לְהוֹצִיא, לִשְׁלוֹף). וְיֵשׁ לְפוֹתְרוֹ לְשׁוֹן נְתִיקָה, כְּמוֹ (ירמיהו יב ג): הַתִּיקֵם כְּצֹאן לְטִבְחָה.
7And you shall rise up from the ambush, and drive out (those remaining in) the city; and the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand.   זוְאַתֶּ֗ם תָּקֻ֙מוּ֙ מֵהָ֣אוֹרֵ֔ב וְהֽוֹרַשְׁתֶּ֖ם אֶת־הָעִ֑יר וּנְתָנָ֛הּ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֖ם בְּיֶדְכֶֽם:
.    וְהוֹרַשְׁתֶּם.  (תַּרְגּוּם:) וּתְתָרְכוּן.
8And it shall be, when you have seized the city, that you shall set the city on fire; according to the word of the Lord shall you do. See, I have commanded you.   חוְהָיָ֞ה כְּתָפְשְׂכֶ֣ם אֶת־הָעִ֗יר תַּצִּ֚יתוּ אֶת־הָעִיר֙ בָּאֵ֔שׁ כִּדְבַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה תַּֽעֲשֹ֑וּ רְא֖וּ צִוִּ֥יתִי אֶתְכֶֽם:
9And Joshua sent them; and they went to the place of ambush, and stayed between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of Ai; and Joshua lodged that night among the people.   טוַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֣ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ אֶל־הַֽמַּֽאֲרָ֔ב וַיֵּֽשְׁב֗וּ בֵּ֧ין בֵּֽית־אֵ֛ל וּבֵ֥ין הָעַ֖י מִיָּ֣ם לָעָ֑י וַיָּ֧לֶן יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ בַּלַּ֥יְלָה הַה֖וּא בְּת֥וֹךְ הָעָֽם:
on the west side of Ai. for Ai was on the east side of Beth-el and Beth-el was on the west side of Ai.   מִיָּם לָעַי.  שֶׁהָעַי מִקֶּדֶם לְבֵית אֵל, וּבֵית אֵל מִיָּם לָעַי.
and Joshua lodged among the people. to be ready early in the morning.   וַיָּלֶן יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בְּתוֹךְ הָעָם.  לִהְיוֹת נָכוֹן בְּהַשְׁכָּמַת הַבֹּקֶר.
10And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and counted the people, and he and the elders of Israel went up before the people to Ai.   יוַיַּשְׁכֵּ֚ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וַיִּפְקֹ֖ד אֶת־הָעָ֑ם וַיַּ֨עַל ה֜וּא וְזִקְנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל לִפְנֵ֥י הָעָ֖ם הָעָֽי:
and he went up. as the Omnipresent had said to him: “If he crosses before them they will cross and if not, they will not cross.”   וַיַּעַל הוּא.  כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ הַמָּקוֹם, אִם הוּא עוֹבֵר לִפְנֵיהֶם עוֹבְרִין, וְאִם לָאו אֵין עוֹבְרִין.
11And all the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew near, and came before the city, and camped on the north side of Ai; and the valley was between him and Ai.   יאוְכָל־הָעָ֨ם הַמִּלְחָמָ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֗וֹ עָלוּ֙ וַֽיִּגְּשׁ֔וּ וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ נֶ֣גֶד הָעִ֑יר וַֽיַּֽחֲנוּ֙ מִצְּפ֣וֹן לָעַ֔י וְהַגַּ֖י בֵּינָ֥יו (כתיב בֵּינָ֥ו) וּבֵין־הָעָֽי:
12And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of Ai.   יבוַיִּקַּ֕ח כַּֽחֲמֵ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים אִ֑ישׁ וַיָּ֨שֶׂם אוֹתָ֜ם אוֹרֵ֗ב בֵּ֧ין בֵּֽית־אֵ֛ל וּבֵ֥ין הָעַ֖י מִיָּ֥ם לָעָֽי (כתיב לָעָֽיר) :
And he took about five thousand men. one ambush, following the other ambush, closer to the city than its fellow.   וַיִּקַּח כַּחֲמֵשֶׁת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ.  אוֹרֵב אַחַר אוֹרֵב, אֶחָד קָרוֹב לָעִיר מֵחֲבֵירוֹ.
13And the people set all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city. And Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.   יגוַיָּשִֹ֨ימוּ הָעָ֜ם אֶת־כָּל־הַֽמַּֽחֲנֶ֗ה אֲשֶׁר֙ מִצְּפ֣וֹן לָעִ֔יר וְאֶת־עֲקֵב֖וֹ מִיָּ֣ם לָעִ֑יר וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ בַּלַּ֥יְלָה הַה֖וּא בְּת֥וֹךְ הָעֵֽמֶק:
And the people set. This setting is an expression of preparation near the wall, to wage war, as it is stated concerning the son of Hadad in (I) Kings (20:12): “Set upon the city. And they set.”   וַיָּשִׂימוּ הָעָם.  שִׂימָה זוֹ לְשׁוֹן הַזְמָנָה, סָמוּךְ לַחוֹמָה לְהִלָּחֵם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּבֶן הֲדַד (מלכים א כ ל): שִׂימוּ עַל הָעִיר, וַיָּשִׂימוּ.
and their liers in wait. Heb. עֲקֵבוֹ their liers in wait, like: “For he has tricked me (וַיַּעַקְבֵנִי)”   וְאֶת עֲקֵבוֹ.  וְאֶת אָרְבּוֹ, כְּמוֹ (בראשית כז לו): וַיַּעְקְבֵנִי.
And Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley. Our Rabbis said that he lodged in the depth of the Law.   וַיֵּלֶךְ יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא בְּתוֹךְ הָעֵמֶק.  אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ (סנהדרין מד ב) שֶׁלָּן בְּעוֹמְקָהּ שֶׁל הֲלָכָה.
14And it was when the king of Ai saw, they hastened and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.   ידוַיְהִ֞י כִּרְא֣וֹת מֶֽלֶךְ־הָעַ֗י וַֽיְמַֽהֲר֡וּ וַיַּשְׁכִּ֡ימוּ וַיֵּֽצְא֣וּ אַנְשֵֽׁי־הָעִ֣יר לִקְרַֽאת־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵ֠ל לַמִּלְחָמָ֞ה ה֧וּא וְכָל־עַמּ֛וֹ לַמּוֹעֵ֖ד לִפְנֵ֣י הָֽעֲרָבָ֑ה וְהוּא֙ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔ע כִּֽי־אוֹרֵ֥ב ל֖וֹ מֵאַֽחֲרֵ֥י הָעִֽיר:
at a time appointed. At the time of day which they had planned [or been advised] on the preceding day, “at that time we will go out,” for they were soothsayers and diviners.   לַמּוֹעֵד.  לִזְמַן הַיּוֹם, שֶׁנּוֹעֲצוּ יַחַד מֵאֶתְמוֹל בְּאוֹתוֹ שָׁעָה נֵצֵא, שֶׁהָיוּ מְנַחֲשִׁים וּמְעוֹנְנִים.
15And Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them, and fled by way of the desert.   טווַיִּנָּ֥גְע֛וּ יְהוֹשֻׁ֥עַ וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיָּנֻס֖וּ דֶּ֥רֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּֽר:
pretended to be beaten. Heb. וַיִּנָּגְעוּ, an expression of a plague [or beating]. [Jonathan renders] and were broken. They showed themselves as though they were beaten before them.   וַיִּנָּגְעוּ.  לְשׁוֹן נֶגַע (כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ:) וְאִתְּבַרוּ, הֶרְאוּ עַצְמָן כְּאִלּוּ הֵם נִגָּפִים לִפְנֵיהֶם.
16And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue them; and they pursued Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.   טזוַיִּֽזָּֽעֲק֗וּ כָּל־הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּעַ֔י (כתיב בָּעַ֔יר) לִרְדֹּ֖ף אַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם וַֽיִּרְדְּפוּ֙ אַֽחֲרֵ֣י יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ וַיִּנָּֽתְק֖וּ מִן־הָעִֽיר:
17And there was not a man left in Ai or Beth-el, that did not go out after Israel; and they left the city open, and pursued Israel.   יזוְלֹֽא־נִשְׁאַ֣ר אִ֗ישׁ בָּעַי֙ וּבֵ֣ית אֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יָֽצְא֖וּ אַֽחֲרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיַּֽעַזְב֚וּ אֶת־הָעִיר֙ פְּתוּחָ֔ה וַֽיִּרְדְּפ֖וּ אַֽחֲרֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
18And the Lord said to Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in your hand, toward Ai; for I will give it into your hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand, toward the city.   יחוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ נְטֵ֠ה בַּכִּיד֚וֹן אֲשֶׁר־בְּיָֽדְךָ֙ אֶל־הָעַ֔י כִּ֥י בְיָֽדְךָ֖ אֶתְּנֶ֑נָּה וַיֵּ֧ט יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ בַּכִּיד֥וֹן אֲשֶׁר־בְּיָד֖וֹ אֶל־הָעִֽיר:
Stretch out the spear. This was the signal for the group lying in ambush to emerge from the ambush when they would see the spear stretched out toward the city. espada in Spanish, a sword.   נְטֵה בַּכִּידוֹן.  הוּא הָיָה סִימָן לָאוֹרֵב לָצֵאת מִן הַמַּאֲרָב, בִּרְאוֹתוֹ הַכִּידוֹן נָטוּי עַל הָעִיר. כִּידוֹן שפיד"ו בְּלַעַז (רוֹמַח, חַנִית).
19And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand; and they entered into the city, and took it, and hastened and set the city on fire.   יטוְהָֽאוֹרֵ֡ב קָם֩ מְהֵרָ֨ה מִמְּקוֹמ֚וֹ וַיָּר֙וּצוּ֙ כִּנְט֣וֹת יָד֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ הָעִ֖יר וַֽיִּלְכְּד֑וּהָ וַֽיְמַהֲר֔וּ וַיַּצִּ֥יתוּ אֶת־הָעִ֖יר בָּאֵֽשׁ:
20And the men of Ai looked behind them, and saw, and behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way; and the people that fled to the desert, turned back upon the pursuers.   כוַיִּפְנ֣וּ אַנְשֵׁי֩ הָעַ֨י אַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֜ם וַיִּרְא֗וּ וְהִנֵּ֨ה עָלָ֜ה עֲשַׁ֚ן הָעִיר֙ הַשָּׁמַ֔יְמָה וְלֹֽא־הָיָ֨ה בָהֶ֥ם יָדַ֛יִם לָנ֖וּס הֵ֣נָּה וָהֵ֑נָּה וְהָעָם֙ הַנָּ֣ס הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר נֶהְפַּ֖ךְ אֶל־הָֽרוֹדֵֽף:
power. lit., hands.   יָדַיִם.  כֹּחַ.
and the people that fled to the desert. The Israelites who fled to the desert, as it is stated above, turned back to fight upon the pursuers.   וְהָעָם הַנָּס הַמִּדְבָּר.  יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנָּסוּ אֶל הַמִּדְבָּר כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר לְמַעְלָה, נֶהְפַּךְ לְהִלָּחֵם אֶל הָרוֹדֵף.
21And Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended. Then they turned back and slew the men of Ai.   כאוִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֨עַ וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל רָא֗וּ כִּֽי־לָכַ֚ד הָֽאֹרֵב֙ אֶת־הָעִ֔יר וְכִ֥י עָלָ֖ה עֲשַׁ֣ן הָעִ֑יר וַיָּשֻׁ֕בוּ וַיַּכּ֖וּ אֶת־אַנְשֵׁ֥י הָעָֽי:
22And the others came out of the city against them, so that they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side; and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.   כבוְאֵ֨לֶּה יָֽצְא֚וּ מִן־הָעִיר֙ לִקְרָאתָ֔ם וַיִּֽהְי֚וּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בַּתָּ֔וֶךְ אֵ֥לֶּה מִזֶּ֖ה וְאֵ֣לֶּה מִזֶּ֑ה וַיַּכּ֣וּ אוֹתָ֔ם עַד־בִּלְתִּ֥י הִשְׁאִֽיר־ל֖וֹ שָׂרִ֥יד וּפָלִֽיט:
And the others came out of the city. the ambush who had set fire to the city.   וְאֵלֶּה יָצְאוּ מִן הָעִיר.  הָאוֹרֵב שֶׁהִצִּית אֶת הָעִיר.
23And the king of Ai they seized alive, and brought him to Joshua.   כגוְאֶת־מֶ֥לֶךְ הָעַ֖י תָּ֣פְשׂוּ חָ֑י וַיַּקְרִ֥בוּ אֹת֖וֹ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ:
24And it was when Israel made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the desert where they chased them, and when they had all fallen by the edge of the sword until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned to Ai and smote it with the edge of the sword.   כדוַיְהִ֣י כְּכַלּ֣וֹת יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל לַהֲרֹג֩ אֶת־כָּל־יֽשְׁבֵ֨י הָעַ֜י בַּשָּׂדֶ֗ה בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רְדָפ֣וּם בּ֔וֹ וַיִּפְּל֥וּ כֻלָּ֛ם לְפִי־חֶ֖רֶב עַד־תֻּמָּ֑ם (פסקא באמצע פסוק) וַיָּשֻׁ֚בוּ כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ הָעַ֔י וַיַּכּ֥וּ אֹתָ֖הּ לְפִי־חָֽרֶב:
25And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, all the people of Ai.   כהוַיְהִי֩ כָל־הַנֹּ֨פְלִ֜ים בַּיּ֚וֹם הַהוּא֙ מֵאִ֣ישׁ וְעַד־אִשָּׁ֔ה שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָֹ֖ר אָ֑לֶף כֹּ֖ל אַנְשֵׁ֥י הָעָֽי:
26And Joshua did not draw back his hand that he had stretched out with the spear, until he had completely destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.   כווִיהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ לֹֽא־הֵשִׁ֣יב יָד֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָטָ֖ה בַּכִּיד֑וֹן עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶחֱרִ֔ים אֵ֖ת כָּל־יֽשְׁבֵ֥י הָעָֽי:
27Only the cattle and the spoils of that city, Israel took for a prey to themselves, according to the word of the Lord which He had commanded Joshua.   כזרַ֣ק הַבְּהֵמָ֗ה וּשְׁלַל֙ הָעִ֣יר הַהִ֔יא בָּֽזְז֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּ֖ה אֶת־יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ:
28And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap forever, a desolation to this day.   כחוַיִּשְׂרֹ֥ף יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ אֶת־הָעָ֑י וַיְשִׂימֶ֚הָ תֵּֽל־עוֹלָם֙ שְׁמָמָ֔ה עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה:
29And the king of Ai he hanged on a gallows until evening, and as the sun set, Joshua commanded, and they took his carcass down from the gallows, and they threw it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raised upon it a great heap of stones to this day.   כטוְאֶת־מֶ֧לֶךְ הָעַ֛י תָּלָ֥ה עַל־הָעֵ֖ץ עַד־עֵ֣ת הָעָ֑רֶב וּכְב֣וֹא הַשֶּׁ֩מֶשׁ֩ צִוָּ֨ה יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ וַיֹּרִ֧ידוּ אֶת־נִבְלָת֣וֹ מִן־הָעֵ֗ץ וַיַּשְׁלִ֚יכוּ אוֹתָהּ֙ אֶל־פֶּ֙תַח֙ שַׁ֣עַר הָעִ֔יר וַיָּקִ֚ימוּ עָלָיו֙ גַּל־אֲבָנִ֣ים גָּד֔וֹל עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה:
30Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord God of Israel on Mount Ebal.   לאָ֣ז יִבְנֶ֚ה יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לַֽיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְּהַ֖ר עֵיבָֽל:
Then Joshua, etc.. This section is written in the manner of ‘earlier’ and ‘later’ [events combined], for on the day they crossed the Jordan he did so.   אָז יִבְנֶה וְגוֹ'.  פָּרָשָׁה זוֹ כְּתוּבָה מוּקְדָּם וּמְאוּחָר, שֶׁמִּיּוֹם שֶׁעָבְרוּ אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן עָשָׂה כֵּן.
31As 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, upon which no (man) has lifted up any iron. And they offered upon it burnt-offerings to the Lord and sacrificed peace-offerings.   לאכַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּה֩ מֹשֶׁ֨ה עֶֽבֶד־יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כַּכָּתוּב֙ בְּסֵ֙פֶר֙ תּוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֔ה מִזְבַּח֙ אֲבָנִ֣ים שְׁלֵמ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹֽא־הֵנִ֥יף עֲלֵיהֶ֖ן בַּרְזֶ֑ל וַיַּֽעֲל֨וּ עָלָ֚יו עֹלוֹת֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה וַֽיִּזְבְּח֖וּ שְׁלָמִֽים:
32And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.   לבוַיִּכְתָּב־שָׁ֖ם עַל־הָֽאֲבָנִ֑ים אֵ֗ת מִשְׁנֵה֙ תּוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר כָּתַ֔ב לִפְנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
And he wrote there on the stones. They are the aforementioned stones. After this event [of building the altar] they peeled the lime off them and brought them to Gilgal.   וַיִּכְתָּב־שָׁם עַל הָאֲבָנִים.  הֵן הֵנָּה הָאֲבָנִים הָאֲמוּרִים לְמַעְלָה, לְאַחַר מַעֲשֶׂה זֶה קִפְּלוּ (קלפו) הַסִּיד מֵעֲלֵיהֶם וֶהֱבִיאוּם הַגִּלְגָּל.
33And all Israel, and their elders and officers and their judges, stood on this side of the Ark and on that side, before the priests the Levites, the bearers of the Ark of the covenant of the Lord, the stranger as well as the native born, half of them over against Mount Gerizim and half of them over against Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded, to bless the people of Israel first.   לגוְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל וּזְקֵנָ֡יו וְשֹֽׁטְרִ֣ים | וְשֹֽׁפְטָ֡יו עֹֽמְדִ֣ים מִזֶּ֣ה | וּמִזֶּ֣ה | לָֽאָר֡וֹן נֶ֩גֶד֩ הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֨ים הַֽלְוִיִּ֜ם נֹֽשְׂאֵ֣י | אֲר֣וֹן בְּרִֽית־יְהֹוָ֗ה כַּגֵּר֙ כָּֽאֶזְרָ֔ח חֶצְיוֹ֙ אֶל־מ֣וּל הַר־גְּרִזִ֔ים וְהַֽחֶצְי֖וֹ אֶל־מ֣וּל הַר־עֵיבָ֑ל כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֜ה מֹשֶׁ֣ה עֶֽבֶד־יְהֹוָ֗ה לְבָרֵ֛ךְ אֶת־הָעָ֥ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָֽה:
to bless the people of Israel first. to pronounce the blessings before the curses: Blessed be the man who will not make a graven or molten image.   לְבָרֵךְ אֶת הָעָם יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה.  לְהַקְדִּים בְּרָכוֹת לִקְלָלוֹת: בָּרוּךְ הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה פֶסֶל וּמַסֵּכָה.
34And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the Torah.   לדוְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן קָרָא֙ אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֣י הַתּוֹרָ֔ה הַבְּרָכָ֖ה וְהַקְּלָלָ֑ה כְּכָל־הַכָּת֖וּב בְּסֵ֥פֶר הַתּוֹרָֽה:
35There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua did not read before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that walked among them.   להלֹֽא־הָיָ֣ה דָבָ֔ר מִכֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֣ה מֹשֶׁ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־קָרָ֜א יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ נֶ֣גֶד כָּל־קְהַ֚ל יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְהַנָּשִׁ֣ים וְהַטַּ֔ף וְהַגֵּ֖ר הַֽהֹלֵ֥ךְ בְּקִרְבָּֽם: