Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the LORD’s words which he spoke to us. It shall be therefore a witness against you, lest you deny your God.”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 27. It hath heard. This is a figure of speech, by which sensation is attributed to inanimate things; and they are called upon, as it were, to bear witness in favour of the great Creator, whom they on their part constantly obey, ( Ch). which is the best manner of hearing. They rise up to our confusion. Theod. q. 19. Worthington.—The oriental writers delight in these strong figurative expressions, which are not confined to poetry. Jesus Christ says, that if the children were silent, the stones would cry out. Luc. 19:40. See Numbers 13:33. Genesis 4:10. Calmet.—Lest. Hebrew “it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest you deny your God;” or literally, “lie unto your Elohim.” Bible.—The expression often means to revolt and prove faithless. Deuteronomy 33:29. and so forth