Devarim 27:2

2 And it shall be on the yom when ye shall pass over Yarden unto Ha’Aretz which Hashem Eloheicha giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up avanim gedolot, and plaster them with plaster;

Devarim 27:2 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 27:2

And it shall be, on the day when you shall pass over Jordan,
&c.] Not the precise day exactly, but about that time, a little after they passed that river, as soon as they conveniently could; for it was not till after Ai was destroyed that the following order was put in execution; indeed as soon as they passed over Jordan, they were ordered to take twelve stones, and did; but then they were set up in a different place, and for a different purpose; see ( Joshua 4:3 Joshua 4:8 Joshua 4:9 ) ( 8:31 ) ;

unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set
thee up great stones;
not in Jordan, as Jarchi, but on Mount Ebal, ( Deuteronomy 27:4 ) ; nor had the stones set up in Jordan any such inscription as what is here ordered to be set on these:

and plaster them with plaster:
that so words might be written upon them, and be more conspicuous, and more easily read.

Devarim 27:2 In-Context

1 7 And Moshe with the zekenim of Yisroel commanded the people, saying, Be shomer over all the mitzvot which I command you today.

2 And it shall be on the yom when ye shall pass over Yarden unto Ha’Aretz which Hashem Eloheicha giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up avanim gedolot, and plaster them with plaster;

3 And thou shalt write upon them kol divrei hatorah hazot, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto Ha’Aretz which Hashem Eloheicha giveth thee, Eretz zavat cholov udevash; as Hashem Elohei Avoteicha hath promised thee.

4 Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Yarden, that ye shall set up these avanim, which I command you today, in Mt Eival, and thou shalt plaster them with plaster.

5 And there shalt thou build a mizbe’ach unto Hashem Eloheicha, a mizbe’ach of avanim; thou shalt not use any barzel (iron [tool]) upon them.