John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. And it shall be, on the day when you shall pass over Jordan , etc.] Not the precise day exactly, but about that time, a little after they passed that river, as soon as they conveniently could; for it was not till after Ai was destroyed that the following order was put in execution; indeed as soon as they passed over Jordan, they were ordered to take twelve stones, and did; but then they were set up in a different place, and for a different purpose; (see Joshua 4:3,8,9 8:31); unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones ; not in Jordan, as Jarchi, but on Mount Ebal, ( Deuteronomy 27:4); nor had the stones set up in Jordan any such inscription as what is here ordered to be set on these: and plaster them with plaster : that so words might be written upon them, and be more conspicuous, and more easily read.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - As soon as they were come into Canaan, they must set up a monument, of 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 mus 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 word of the law are written, with the curse annexed; which would overcome u with horror, if we had not, in the New Testament, an altar erecte close by, which gives consolation. Blessed be God, the printed copie of the Scriptures among us, do away the necessity of such methods a were presented to Israel. The end of the gospel ministry is, and the end of preachers ought to be, to make the word of God as plain a possible. Yet, unless the Spirit of God prosper such labours with Divine power, we shall not, even by these means, be made wise unt salvation: for this blessing we should therefore daily and earnestl pray.
Original Hebrew והיה1961 ביום3117 אשׁר834 תעברו5674 את853 הירדן3383 אל413 הארץ776 אשׁר834 יהוה3068 אלהיך430 נתן5414 לך והקמת6965 לך אבנים68 גדלות1419 ושׂדת7874 אתם853 בשׂיד׃7874
