Deuteronomy 27:1-8

Deuteronomy 27:1-8

[1] And Moses  with the elders  of Israel  commanded  the people,  saying,  Keep  all the commandments  which I command  you this day.  [2] And it shall be on the day  when ye shall pass over  Jordan  unto the land  which the LORD  thy God  giveth  thee, that thou shalt set thee up  great  stones,  and plaister  [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 the LORD  thy God  giveth  thee, a land  that floweth  with milk  and honey;  as the LORD  God  of thy fathers  hath promised  thee. [4] Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over  Jordan,  that ye shall set up  these stones,  which I command  you this day,  in mount  Ebal,  them with plaister.  [5] And there shalt thou build  an altar  unto the LORD  thy God,  an altar  of stones:  thou shalt not lift up  any iron  [6] Thou shalt build  the altar  of the LORD  thy God  of whole  stones:  and thou shalt offer  burnt offerings  thereon unto the LORD  thy God:  [7] And thou shalt offer  peace offerings,  and shalt eat  there, and rejoice  before  the LORD  thy God.  [8] And thou shalt write  upon the stones  all the words  of this law  very  plainly. 

What does Deuteronomy 27:1-8 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

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.
"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]
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).