Question 1

What is the main point of Deuteronomy 27:1-10?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows God, through Moses, preparing Israel to live as His people in the promised land. The main point is that entering the land is tied to obedience. When they cross the Jordan, they are to set up large stones, cover them with plaster, and write all the words of the law very plainly. On Mount Ebal they must also build an altar of uncut stones, offer burnt and peace offerings, eat, and rejoice before God. All of this says, in a public way, that the land and the people belong to the Lord and must follow His commands.

Question 2

Why did God tell Israel to write the law on great plastered stones?

Accepted Answer

The law was written on great stones and covered with plaster so the words could be seen clearly and read easily. This made God’s commands public and permanent at the very entrance to the land. Anyone passing by would know that this land was dedicated to the Lord and that His people lived there under His word. The text says the words were to be written “very plainly,” so no one could excuse themselves by saying they did not know what God had said. It kept His law always in front of their eyes.

Question 3

Why were the altar stones on Mount Ebal not to be cut with iron tools?

Accepted Answer

The altar on Mount Ebal had to be made from whole stones just as they were found, with no iron tool used on them. This kept the altar simple and free from human decoration. It showed that true worship depends on God’s way, not on human art or pride. The altar was not meant to draw attention to human skill, but to God and His sacrifice. It was also a temporary altar for this special covenant act, not a permanent shrine, so it was to remain plain and avoid becoming an object of superstition or false trust.

Question 4

What is the significance of building an altar next to the written law?

Accepted Answer

Having the altar right where the law was written makes an important point. The law on the stones shows what God requires and reminds the people of blessing and curse. The altar, with burnt offerings and peace offerings, shows that there is a way to approach God when they fail. They could not look at the law with comfort without also seeing the place of sacrifice. This hints that forgiveness and fellowship with God do not come from law-keeping alone, but through the atonement He provides, which for Christians points forward to Christ as the one who bears the curse of the law for His people.

Question 5

What does it mean when Moses says, “This day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God”?

Accepted Answer

When Moses and the priests say, “This day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God,” they are not saying Israel had never been God’s people before. God had already chosen and rescued them. Here, standing on the edge of the land, their identity is being publicly renewed and confirmed. God is about to give them the land He promised to their fathers, and they are openly agreeing to live under His covenant. Because God owns them and blesses them in this way, they are bound to “obey the voice of the Lord” and keep His commandments in the land.

Question 6

Why is Mount Ebal important in this passage?

Accepted Answer

Mount Ebal is the place where the stones with the law and the altar are to be set up after Israel crosses the Jordan. Later in the chapter, it is linked with the tribes who answer “Amen” to the curses of the law. Placing the written law and the altar there ties together God’s warnings and His provision for sacrifice. It shows that when God speaks of obedience and curse, He also provides a way to come to Him. The altar on Ebal hints that even where judgment is spoken, there is room for mercy and restored fellowship through the offering He accepts.

Question 7

How do the burnt and peace offerings here relate to God’s covenant with Israel?

Accepted Answer

The burnt offerings on the altar pointed to total devotion to God, as the whole animal was given up. The peace offerings involved eating before the Lord, picturing fellowship, joy, and shared life with Him. Offering these right where the law was written turned the covenant into a lived, shared event. God spoke through the written law, and the people answered through sacrifice, eating, and rejoicing. It was their way of saying “yes” to the covenant terms. These offerings also look ahead to the greater sacrifice that brings lasting peace with God, which Christians see fulfilled in Christ.

Question 8

What does this passage teach about obedience and identity as God’s people?

Accepted Answer

This passage ties obedience closely to identity. Moses reminds Israel that God has made them His own people and is giving them a good land that flows with milk and honey. Because of that, they must “keep all the commandments” and “obey the voice of the Lord.” Their special place with God is not meant to lead to laziness, but to thankful obedience. Writing the law on stones and building the altar in the land both show that being God’s people is not just a title. It means living under His word, trusting His mercy, and rejoicing in His presence.

Question 9

How can believers today apply the commands in Deuteronomy 27:1-10?

Accepted Answer

Believers today are not called to cross the Jordan or build an altar on Mount Ebal, but the heart of this passage still speaks. God’s people should keep His word clear and plain in their lives, not hidden or twisted. There is value in visible reminders of God’s commands and promises, in public confession that we belong to Him, and in shared worship and joy before Him. This passage also reminds Christians to see God’s law together with Christ’s sacrifice: we take God’s commands seriously, but we also rest in the One who fulfilled the law and brings us into real peace with God.

Deuteronomy 27:1

And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.

The Altar on Mount Ebal

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Deuteronomy 27:1

And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.

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The Altar on Mount Ebal

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