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Joshua 8 · Grade 5

Covenant Renewed in the Land

Name Date

Read and Think

Joshua 8 shows restoration after Achan's sin. Yahweh opens with Don't be afraid, and don't be dismayed, the same assurance given to Joshua at the start. Now Israel fights God's way. Joshua posts an ambush between Bethel and Ai, draws the men of Ai out by pretending to flee, and leaves the city open.

Yahweh says, Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand. The outstretched javelin, held until the end, may remind readers of Moses' raised hands in the battle with Amalek. Ai is defeated as God's judgment. Unlike at Jericho, God now permits Israel to take the livestock and plunder, but at Jericho Achan had taken what God said not to take.

The chapter ends not with a battle but with worship. On Mount Ebal, Joshua builds an altar of uncut stones, as written in the book of the law of Moses. He writes a copy of the law on stones and reads all of it, the blessing and the curse, with half the people before Mount Gerizim and half before Mount Ebal. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded which Joshua didn't read before all the assembly. The covenant belongs to everyone, from leaders to little ones to foreigners.

Show What You Know

  1. What assurance does Yahweh repeat at the start of the chapter?

  2. Where did Joshua post the ambush?

  3. What did Joshua keep holding out until Ai was defeated?

  4. What did God let Israel take at Ai?

  5. Where were the two halves of the people standing?

Crossword

42351

Across

  1. with the women, the ____ ones, and the foreigners
  2. Joshua built an altar to Yahweh, the God of Israel, on Mount ____.

Down

  1. They also heard the law read.
  2. It was made of uncut stones.
  3. Afterward he ____ all the words of the law.

Think About It

  1. Joshua read every word, the blessing and the curse. Why is it important to hear all of God's word and not just the parts we like?

  2. How does worship after victory help us remember who gave the victory?

Memory Verse

“There was not a word of all that Moses commanded which Joshua didn’t read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the foreigners who were among them.”

Joshua 8:35 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for Your word for every person. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How does God help you start over after you fail?
  • What does reading God's law to everyone show about God's people?
  • What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.