Joshua 22:34
[Ed. i.e, a witness.]
The word witness, or testimony, is not found in the common editions of the Hebrew Bible; and is supplied in Italics by our venerable translators, at least in our modern copies; for in the first edition of this translation, it stands in the text without any note of this kind; but it is found in several of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., and also in the Syriac and Arabic. Several also of the early printed editions of the Hebrew Bible have the word {ed,} either in the text or in the margin; and it must be allowed to be necessary to complete the sense. It is very probable that an inscription was put on this altar, signifying the purpose for which it was erected. Thus was this affair most happily terminated.
Lord ... God <0430 03068> [the Lord is God.]
Several manuscripts read more emphatically, [yeh“vƒh <\\See definition 03068\\>,] [h–w' <\\See definition 01931\\>] [el“hŒym <\\ See definition 0430\\>,] {Yehowah, hoo Elohim,} "Jehovah he is God."
Joshua 24:1
Joshua <03091> [Joshua.]
This must have been a different assembly from that mentioned in the preceding chapter, though probably held not long after the former.
Shechem <07927> [Shechem.]
As it is immediately added, that "they presented themselves before God," which is supposed to mean at the tabernacle; some are of opinion that Joshua caused it to be conveyed from Shiloh to Shechem on this occasion, to give the greater solemnity to his last meeting with the people. The Vatican and Alexandrian copies of the Septuagint, however, read [Selo,] both here and in verse 25; which many suppose to have been the original reading. Dr. Shuckford supposes that the covenant was made at Shechem, and that the people went to Shiloh to confirm it. But the most probable opinion seems to be that of Dr. Kennicott, that when all the tribes were assembled as Shechem, Joshua called the chiefs to him on that mount, which had before been consecrated by the law, and by the altar which he had erected.
summoned <07121> [called.]
appeared <03320> [presented.]
