Devarim 27:5

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.

Devarim 27:5 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 27:5

And there shall thou build an altar to the Lord thy God
On the same mountain, though not of the same stones. Jarchi's note is,

``after that (the setting up of the plastered stones) thou shalt bring from thence (from Jordan) others, and build of them an altar on Mount Ebal;''

but Josephus ^F20 places this altar not on Mount Ebal, but between that and Gerizim. This altar, he says, was ordered to be built towards the rising sun, not far from the city of Shechem, between two mountains, Gerizim and Ebal; but the text is express, that it was to be built where the stones were set up, which was on Mount Ebal, and there it was built, ( Joshua 8:30 ) ; an altar of stones; of whole stones, as in ( Deuteronomy 27:6 ) , not broken, nor hewed, but rough as they were when taken out of the quarry: thou shalt not lift up [any] iron [tool] upon them;
to hew them, and make them smooth; (See Gill on Exodus 20:25);

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 4. c. 8. sect. 44.)

Devarim 27:5 In-Context

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.

6 Thou shalt build the mizbe’ach of Hashem Eloheicha of avanim shleimot (uncut stones); and thou shalt offer olot thereon unto Hashem Eloheicha;

7 And thou shalt offer shelamim, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before Hashem Eloheicha.