And when you have crossed the Jordan, you are to set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I am commanding you today, and you are to coat them with plaster. And when you have crossed the Jordan,Israel’s entrance into Canaan would fulfill the Lord’s covenant promise to Abraham concerning the land (Genesis 15:18–21). The Jordan marked the end of the wilderness journey and the beginning of life under God’s covenant in the land He had given them. As at the Red Sea, the crossing would display the Lord’s power and faithful presence with His people. Jos 3:14-17 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan,… you are to set up these stones on Mount Ebal, The stones were to bear the words of God’s law as a public witness in the heart of the land. Mount Ebal stood opposite Mount Gerizim near Shechem, where Abraham had first received God’s promise concerning the land (Genesis 12:6–7). Ebal would be associated with the pronouncement of covenant curses, making the monument a sober reminder that possession of the land required faithful obedience. Joshua later carried out this command after Israel entered Canaan (Joshua 8:30–35). Jos 8:30-31 At that time Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal to the LORD… as I am commanding you today, Moses spoke with the authority God had entrusted to him, calling Israel to receive these commands as binding covenant obligations. The generation entering the land was not free to shape its worship or morality according to Canaanite custom; it was to live under the revealed word of the Lord. Deu 12:32 See that you do everything I command you;… and you are to coat them with plaster. A plaster coating provided a smooth, visible surface on which the law could be written. The monument would stand as an enduring testimony that Israel’s life in the land rested on God’s word, not military strength or human achievement. The written law confronted every generation with the blessing of obedience and the consequences of turning from the Lord. Jos 8:32 And there in the presence of the Israelites,… Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites who is delivering God's commandments to the people before they enter the Promised Land. 2. The Israelites The chosen people of God, who are about to enter the Promised Land after their exodus from Egypt and years of wandering in the desert. 3. Mount Ebal A mountain in the land of Canaan where the Israelites are instructed to set up stones and coat them with plaster as a sign of their covenant with God. 4. The Jordan River The river that the Israelites must cross to enter the Promised Land. 5. The Covenant Ceremony The event where the Israelites reaffirm their covenant with God by setting up stones and writing the law on them. Teaching Points Obedience to God's CommandsThe act of setting up stones on Mount Ebal signifies the importance of obeying God's commands. It serves as a physical reminder of the covenant between God and His people. The Importance of Remembrance Coating the stones with plaster and writing the law on them ensures that the Israelites remember God's laws. This teaches us the importance of keeping God's Word at the forefront of our lives. Symbolism of Crossing the Jordan Crossing the Jordan represents a transition from the wilderness into the Promised Land. It symbolizes moving from a life of wandering to one of purpose and fulfillment in God's promises. The Role of Community in Faith The communal act of setting up the stones emphasizes the collective responsibility of the Israelites to uphold God's laws. It reminds us of the importance of community in our faith journey. The Consequences of Choices Mount Ebal, associated with curses, serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience. It challenges us to consider the outcomes of our choices in light of God's commands. Bible Study Questions 1. What significance does the act of setting up stones on Mount Ebal hold for the Israelites, and how can we apply this practice of remembrance in our own lives?2. How does the crossing of the Jordan River symbolize a transition in the life of a believer, and what "Jordan" might you need to cross in your spiritual journey? 3. In what ways can we ensure that God's Word remains central in our daily lives, similar to the Israelites writing the law on stones? 4. How does the communal aspect of the Israelites' covenant ceremony on Mount Ebal inform our understanding of the role of community in our faith? 5. Reflect on a time when you faced a choice between obedience and disobedience. What were the consequences, and how does this relate to the symbolism of Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim? Connections to Other Scriptures Joshua 8:30-35This passage describes the fulfillment of the command given in Deuteronomy 27:4, where Joshua leads the Israelites in setting up an altar on Mount Ebal and writing the law on stones. Exodus 24:4 Moses writes down all the words of the Lord, similar to the act of writing the law on stones, emphasizing the importance of recording God's commandments. Deuteronomy 11:29 This verse mentions Mount Ebal as the place of curses, contrasting with Mount Gerizim, the place of blessings, highlighting the choice between obedience and disobedience.
People Asher, Benjamin, Dan, Gad, Issachar, Joseph, Levi, Levites, Moses, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, ZebulunPlaces Beth-baal-peor, Jordan River, Mount Ebal, Mount GerizimTopics Building-paste, Coat, Coated, Command, Commanding, Cross, Ebal, Hast, Jordan, Lime, Mount, Passed, Passing, Plaister, Plaistered, Plaster, Raise, Stones, To-dayDictionary of Bible Themes Deuteronomy 27:1-8Library ObedienceTake heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God, and do his commandments.' Deut 27: 9, 10. What is the duty which God requireth of man? Obedience to his revealed will. It is not enough to hear God's voice, but we must obey. Obedience is a part of the honour we owe to God. If then I be a Father, where is my honour?' Mal 1: 6. Obedience carries in it the life-blood of religion. Obey the voice of the Lord … Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments In Judæa and through Samaria - a Sketch of Samaritan History and Theology - Jews and Samaritans. How Christ is Made Use of for Justification as a Way. Gilgal, in Deuteronomy 11:30 what the Place Was. In Galilee at the Time of Our Lord Meditations of the Misery of a Man not Reconciled to God in Christ. Jesus' Last Public Discourse. Denunciation of Scribes and Pharisees. Differences in Judgment About Water Baptism, no Bar to Communion: Or, to Communicate with Saints, as Saints, Proved Lawful. Deuteronomy Links Deuteronomy 27:4 NIVDeuteronomy 27:4 NLT Deuteronomy 27:4 ESV Deuteronomy 27:4 NASB Deuteronomy 27:4 KJV Deuteronomy 27:4 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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