Deuteronomy 27:2

2 The same day you cross the Jordan River to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up large stones and cover them with plaster.

Deuteronomy 27:2 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 27:2

And it shall be, on the day when you shall pass over Jordan,
&c.] 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 Joshua 4:8 Joshua 4:9 ) ( 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.

Deuteronomy 27:2 In-Context

1 Then Moses and Israel's elders commanded the people: Keep all of the commandment that I am giving you right now.

2 The same day you cross the Jordan River to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up large stones and cover them with plaster.

3 Once you have crossed over, write on the stones all the words of this Instruction because you will have entered the land the LORD your God is giving to you—a land full of milk and honey—exactly as the LORD, your ancestors' God, promised you.

4 Once you have crossed over the Jordan River, set up these stones that I'm telling you about right now on Mount Ebal. Cover them with plaster

5 and build an altar there for the LORD your God—an altar of stones that haven't been cut with iron tools.