Then Joshua built an altar to Yahweh, the God of Israel, in Mount Ebal,
      1. The law of the ten commandments was written upon stones in the presence of all Israel, as an abridgment of the whole, Joshua 8:32; Joshua 8:32. This copy was not graven in the stone, as that which was reserved in the ark: That was to be done only by the finger of God; it is his prerogative to write the law in the heart. But the stones were plastered, and it was written upon the plaster, Deuteronomy 27:4; Deuteronomy 27:8. It was written, that all might see what it was that they consented to, and that it might be a standing remaining testimony to posterity of God's goodness in giving them such good laws, and a testimony against them if they were disobedient to them. It is a great mercy to any people to have the law of God in writing, and it is fit that the written law should be exposed to common view in a known tongue, that it may be seen and read of all men.