Deuteronomy 27:5

5 Build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them.

Deuteronomy 27:5 in Other Translations

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.

5 And there you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You shall wield no iron tool on them;

5 “Then build an altar there to the LORD your God, using natural, uncut stones. You must not shape the stones with an iron tool.

5 Build an Altar of stones for God, your God, there on the mountain. Don't use an iron tool on the stones;

5 Build an altar of stones there to the Lord your God-you must not use any iron tool on them.

Deuteronomy 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.)

Deuteronomy 27:5 In-Context

3 Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

4 And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster.

5 Build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them.

6 Build the altar of the LORD your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.

7 Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 20:24; Joshua 8:31
• 2. Exodus 20:25