33. Now therefore put away — the strange gods] These are the very same words, which Jacob used to his household, when he suspected them of idolatry, Gen. xxxv. 2; although none was openly practised among them. Bp. Patrick. Joshua knew, by Divine inspiration, what was the inward disposition of the people, and their secret affection to idols; and that some amongst them worshipped false gods in private. Dr. Wells. 35. So Joshua made a covenant &c.] So Joshua renewed the covenant by which the Israelites had before bound themselves, both in the time of Moses, and in his time: and "he set before them a statute," that is, he read, or ordered to be read unto them the several precepts of the law, which were the conditions of the covenant then renewed. Dr. Wells. 36. — in the book of the law of God,] The book which was laid up by Moses, in the side of the ark, Deut. xxxi. 24—26. Bp. Patrick. — and took a great stone,] This was an ancient way of preserving the memory of past transactions, as appears from what Jacob did, Gen. xxviii. 18, and from what they themselves had done, Josh. iv. 3, 20. Bp. Patrick. — under an oak, — by the sanctuary] It was forbidden to plant a grove of trees near the sanctuary, Deut. xvi. 21; but this did not render it unlawful to set up the sanctuary, for a short time especially, under a tree planted before. Bp. Patrick. — under an oak,] This was probably the place (called, Gen. xii. 6, "the place of Sichem") where Abraham first sat down, and where, on the Lord's first appearing to him, he erected his first altar in the land of Canaan: for the words at Gen. xii. 6, "unto the plain of Moreh," are sometimes rendered, "unto the oak of Moreh." See note on Gen. xii. 6. And what place could be more proper for Abraham's posterity to renew a covenant with their God, than that, where their God first made His covenant with Abraham their father? Jos. Meds. 37. — for it hath heard all the words] By a figure of speech, the stone is said to have heard what had passed, because it would remain to all posterity to testify the engagements there contracted. Bp. Patrick. Nothing is more frequent in Scripture than expressions, which cannot be understood in a literal, and therefore must be in a metaphorical or figurative sense: of which this language of Joshua is an example. Lord Clarendon.