Deuteronomy 27:5

_AND THERE SHALT THOU BUILD AN ALTAR UNTO THE LORD THY GOD, AN ALTAR OF STONES: THOU SHALT NOT LIFT UP ANY IRON TOOL UPON THEM._ There shalt thou build an altar ... of whole stones. The stones were to be in their natural state, as if a chisel would communicate pollution to them. It is not certain whether the same stones formed the monument on the sides of which the words of the law were inscribed, as well as the altar on which the victims were sacrificed that signalized its renewed ratification (see the note at Joshua 8:30). At all events, the stony pile was so large as to contain all the conditions of the covenant, so elevated as to be visible to the whole congregation of Israel; and the religious ceremonial performed around it on the occasion was solemn and impressive, consisting, first, of the elementary worship needed for sinful men; and secondly, of the peace offerings, o

5_And there shalt thou build an altar. _At their first entrance into the land, God commands that a sacrifice of thanksgiving should be offered to Him; and this Joshua performed, as is related in Joshua 8:30 "Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the Lord commanded the children of Israel, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron." First of all, then, this testimony of their gratitude is required, that the children of Israel, as soon as they have begun to set foot in the land of Canaan, might celebrate the praises of the Lord; secondly, he forbids all artificial work, because, if the altar had been permanent, it would have been an occasion of superstition, and this exceptional instance would have been more regarded than the perpetual L

1-10 As soon as they were come into Canaan, they must set up a monument, on which they must write the words of this law. They must set up an altar. The word and prayer must go together. Though they might not, of their own heads, set up any altar besides that at the tabernacle; yet, by the appointment of God, they might, upon special occasion. This altar must be made of unhewn stones, such as they found upon the field. Christ, our Altar, is a stone cut out of the mountain without hands, refused by the builders, as having no form or comeliness, but accepted of God the Father, and made the Head of the corner. In the Old Testament the words of the law are written, with the curse annexed; which would overcome us with horror, if we had not, in the New Testament, an altar erected close by, which gives consolation. Blessed be God, the printed copies of the Scriptures among us, do away the neces...

PART III.—THIRD DISCOURSE OF MOSES. THE COVENANT RENEWED. CHAPTERS 27-30. EXPOSITION Deuteronomy 27:1. INSTRUCTIONS AS TO THE PUBLISHING OF THE LAW IN CANAAN. HAVING set forth the laws and rights of Israel with special reference to the settlement of the people in Canaan, Hoses proceeds to dwell more particularly on the sanctions by which obedience to the Divine institute was enforced. Before entering on these, however, he gives some instructions regarding the setting up and proclamation of the Law when the

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 t 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 q

23. THE MEMORIAL OF THE LAW AT MOUNT EBAL; GERIZIM AND EBAL CHAPTER 27 _ 1. The memorial to be set up in the land (Deuteronomy 27:1)_ 2. Gerizim and Ebal (Deuteronomy 27:9) Little comment is needed on this chapter. The memorial stones were to be set up on Mount Ebal. Upon that mountain the curses of the law were to be uttered. The blessings were to be pronounced upon Mount Gerizim. However, on Gerizim were no stones with the law written upon it. How strikingly this illustrates the true ministration of the law! It cannot give blessing, but it must curse man. “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” ...

IRON. Probably. technical name for. chisel, as we now associate it with. laundry or. prison....

Erection of Stones for the Inscription of the Law, and of an Altar Moses and the elders charged the people to keep the commandment (1); when they cross Jordan they shall set up stones and, whitening them, shall thereon write the Law (Torah) (2 f.); they shall do this on Mt -Ebal (4), and build an altar (of the form enjoined in E, Exodus 20:24 f.) for burnt and peace offerings, eating and rejoicing before God (5 7), and writing on the stones very plainly (8). The passage is a compilation from different sources. _First_, in Deuteronomy 27:2_; Deuteronomy 27:8_, Deuteronomy 27:2 f. and...

_VER._ 4, 5. _IN MOUNT EBAL_— Dr. Parry has given a very just turn to this passage, remarking well from Noldius, that we should not read _in mount Ebal,_ but BY _mount Ebal,_ as, in the 12th and 13th verses, UPON _mount Gerizzim,_ and UPON _mount Ebal,_ should be BY _mount Gerizzim,_ and BY _mount Ebal:_ and accordingly we find, that when this commandment was fulfilled, the tribes did not stand upon the mountains, but in the plain between them; half of them _over-against mount Gerizzim, and half of them over-against mount Ebal._ Joshua 8:33. And in the middle of this plain, it is most probable, the altar was erected; the very place, as there is great reason to believe, where Abraham erected his first altar in the land of Canaan. See Genesis 12:6. But as every law is

LESSON TWENTY-ONE DEUTERONOMY 27:1 TO DEUTERONOMY 28:68 III. THE THIRD DISCOURSE Future of Israel Foretold (Deuteronomy 27:1 to Deuteronomy 30:20) A. ALTAR TO BE BUILT UPON MOUNT EBAL FOR THE RECORDING OF GOD'S LAW (Deuteronomy 27:1-8) And Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandment which I command you this day. 2 And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over the Jordan unto the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set