יהושע, פרק כ״ד, פסוק כ״ז

As his leadership draws to a close, Joshua seeks to permanently cement the covenant between the Israelites and God. To ensure this commitment endures, he establishes a physical monument to serve as an eternal witness, preventing any future denial of their faith. The declarations made during this event do not stem from Joshua's personal thoughts. Rather, they are delivered through prophecy [מצודת דוד] and reflect the original words God spoke at Mount Sinai [רד״ק].

The idea that a stone could listen to these divine words prompts different explanations. The primary approach among commentators is that this is a poetic metaphor. Because the monument was present at the exact location where the covenant was made, it acts as a silent observer, much like other moments in Scripture where the earth itself is called upon to listen [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד].

Beyond this metaphorical understanding, other perspectives give the stone a more physical and textual role. One tradition compares it to the Tablets of the Covenant, suggesting that God's words were actually engraved directly onto its surface [רש״י, רד״ק]. A unique approach proposes that the stone was hollow, and a book detailing the covenant was placed inside it. In this sense, the stone absorbed the message because the physical record of God's commands rested within it. This mirrors how Moses placed the Torah scroll beside the Ark of the Covenant to serve as a lasting witness [מלבי״ם].

In his address, Joshua initially includes himself in the commitment, showing that he too is bound by the covenant. However, he quickly shifts his focus directly to the Israelites, emphasizing that the primary purpose of this tangible monument is to prevent them from turning away from God in the future. This monument was originally prepared in Shechem and later moved to the Tabernacle in Shiloh. Because planting a real tree within the sanctuary is strictly forbidden, the stone itself may have been carved into the shape of an oak tree and placed inside the sanctuary. This unique design explains the association of an oak tree with the placement of the stone [מלבי״ם].