Upon entering Canaan the Israelites were to assemble at Mt. Ebal (the hill that flanked Shechem to the north) near the center of the land and set up several large stones as monuments (cf. Exodus 24:4-8). They were to plaster these with lime (or gypsum) and then write the law on the monuments. This was a common way of posting important public announcements in Canaan. [1] They probably copied the Ten Commandments, [2] but they may have copied the blessings and curses, [3] the legal parts of the law, [4] the salient parts of the laws reiterated in Deuteronomy , [5] or the entire Book of Deuteronomy. [6] The purpose of this act was to declare to all people, Canaanites as well as Israelites, that the Mosaic Law was Israel"s standard of faith and practice, its national constitution. [source][source][source]
"The practice of writing laws on a plastered surface was known in other lands, notably Egypt, where the texts were painted rather than engraved." [7][source]
The people were also to build an altar on Mt. Ebal at the same time ( Deuteronomy 27:5-7). They were to fashion it of uncut stones (cf. Exodus 20:25). Then the nation was to offer burnt and peace offerings of worship to Yahweh thereby committing themselves to Him as their Lord. Abraham received God"s promise of the land and built his first altar in the land at this site ( Genesis 12:6-7). [source][source][source]