Deuteronomy 27:1-8

LESSON TWENTY-ONE Deuteronomy 27:1 to Deuteronomy 28:68

III. THE THIRD DISCOURSE

Future of Israel Foretold (Deuteronomy 27:1 to Deuteronomy 30:20)

A. ALTAR TO BE BUILT UPON MOUNT EBAL
FOR THE RECORDING OF GOD'S LAW
(Deuteronomy 27:1-8)

And Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandment which I command you this day. 2 And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over the Jordan unto the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaster them with plaster: 3 and thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over; that thou mayest go in unto the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Jehovah, the God of thy fathers, hath promised thee. 4 And it shall be, when ye are passed over the Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaster them with plaster. 5 And there shalt thou build an altar unto Jehovah thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt lift up no iron tool upon them. 6 Thou shalt build the altar of Jehovah thy God of unhewn stones; and thou shalt offer burnt-offerings thereon unto Jehovah thy God: 7 and thou shalt sacrifice peace-offerings, and shalt eat there; and thou shalt rejoice before Jehovah thy God. 8 And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 27:1-8

465.

Read Joshua 8:30-35 for fulfillment of the promises made here.

466.

What was to be written upon the stones? How much of the law? How large were the stones?

467.

Was the altar the same as the stones upon which was written the laws of Jehovah? Cf. Joshua 8:31-32.

468.

What specific purpose or purposes were served in fulfilling these instructions?

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 27:1-8

And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, Keep all the commandments with which I charge you today.
2 And on the day when you pass over the Jordan to the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall set you up great stones, and cover them with plaster.
3 And you shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have passed over, that you may go into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you.
4 And when you have gone over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, on Mount Ebal, and coat them with plaster.
5 And there you shall build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones; you shall not lift up any iron tool upon them.
6 You shall build the altar of the Lord your God of whole stones, and offer burnt offerings on it to Him;
7 And you shall offer peace offerings, and eat there, and rejoice before the Lord your God.
8 And you shall write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.

COMMENT 27:1-8

See also Joshua 8:30-35 where we have these instructions carried out.

SET THEE UP GREAT STONES (Deuteronomy 27:2)These were to be unhewn stones, Deuteronomy 27:5, Exodus 20:25. Hewn and engraven stones were associated with idolatry. Thus graven images were forbidden, Deuteronomy 27:15, Deuteronomy 4:16 ff. Recall Aaron in making the golden calf fashioned it with a graving tool (Exodus 32:4). The whole stones would contrast to the idolator's hewn and graven ones. Compare memorials set up in the Jordan (Joshua 4:8-9), and Gilgal (Joshua 4:20). Perhaps for this (as well as other reasons), no iron tool was used on the temple premises (1 Kings 6:7).

PLASTER THEM WITH PLASTER (Deuteronomy 27:2)Some believe the Hebrew is better read, cement them with cement. Smith has white washing them with lime. But regardless of the mixture used, its purpose is apparent: to serve as a binder and provide a relatively smooth surface for writing (we suppose before it hardened).

WRITE UPON THEM ALL THE WORDS OF THE LAW (Deuteronomy 27:3)Are all the words of Moses meant? The laws of the book meant? The laws of the book of Deuteronomy just given? Surely not the entire Pentateuch! Nor is there any valid reason for supposing only the decalogue to be meant. Clarke suggests that the (... Torah) law or ordinance in question simply means the blessings and curses mentioned in-' this and the following chapter; and indeed these contained a very good epitome of the whole law in all its promises and threatenings, in reference to the whole of its grand moral design.

But it seems difficult to understand all the words of this law (Deuteronomy 27:3; Deuteronomy 27:8) as not referring to a legal code. And in view of the ability of the Hebrew language to say much in a few words, we would tend to believe that at least the legislative portion of Deuteronomythis law is meant. It may have been condensed or abbreviated. Note especially Joshua 8:32, where it is called a copy of the law of Moses, which is distinguished from the book of the law of Moses, (Deuteronomy 29:21). As we are not told the size of the monument, no problem exists concerning making it large enough for a lengthy inscription.

IN MOUNT EBAL (Deuteronomy 27:4)On the side of this mount the stones were to be set up. It was the mountain of curses, 3,075 feet, and stood to the north and directly opposite mount Gerizim, the mountain of blessings, 2,850 feet. Between them lay a vale, and the town of Shechema city of ancient origin (Genesis 12:6; Genesis 33:18), before which lay a relatively wide plain.

AND THERE SHALT THOU BUILD AN ALTAR (Deuteronomy 27:5)Not a different structure from the memorial, but the same one, Joshua 8:31-32.