Deuteronomy 27:2-8

2 When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster.

3 Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

4 And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster.

5 Build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them.

6 Build the altar of the LORD your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.

7 Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God.

8 And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up.”

Deuteronomy 27:2-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 27

In this chapter the people of Israel are ordered to write the law on plastered stones, and set them on Mount Ebal, De 27:1-4; where they are bid to erect an altar, and offer sacrifices on it, De 27:5-8; and are charged by Moses and the priests to obey the Lord, and keep his commandments, De 27:9,10; and a direction is given to each tribes which should stand and bless, and which curse, and where, De 27:11-13; and the curses which the Levites should pronounce with a loud voice, and the people should say Amen to, are recited, De 27:14-25; and the whole is concluded with a curse on all who in general do not perform the whole law, De 27:26.

Cross References

• 1. Joshua 4:1
• 2. Exodus 24:4; Joshua 24:26; 1 Samuel 7:12
• 3. Joshua 8:31
• 4. S Exodus 3:8; Deuteronomy 26:9
• 5. S Deuteronomy 11:29
• 6. S Exodus 20:24; Joshua 8:31
• 7. Exodus 20:25
• 8. S Exodus 32:6
• 9. S Deuteronomy 16:11
• 10. Joshua 8:31
• 11. Isaiah 8:1; Isaiah 30:8; Habakkuk 2:2
• 12. Joshua 8:32