Deuteronomy 27:1-8

The Altar on Mount Ebal

1 The elders of Israel and I gave commands to the people. We said, "Obey all of the commands we're giving you today.

2 "You will go across the Jordan River. You will enter the land the LORD your God is giving you. When you do, set up some large stones. Put a coat of plaster on them.

3 Write all of the words of this law on them. Do it when you have crossed over into the land the LORD your God is giving you. It's a land that has plenty of milk and honey. The LORD is the God of your fathers. He promised you that you would enter the land.

4 After you have gone across the Jordan, set up those stones on Mount Ebal. Put a coat of plaster on them. We're commanding you today to do that.

5 "Build an altar there to honor the LORD your God. Make it out of stones. Don't use any iron tool on them.

6 Use stones you find in the fields to build his altar. Then offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.

7 Sacrifice friendship offerings there. Eat them and be filled with joy in the sight of the LORD your God.

8 "You must write all of the words of this law on the stones you have set up. Write the words very clearly."

Deuteronomy 27:1-8 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.