Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Crimson Glory · 09-02-2008, 09:46 PM

I found this small curiosity in a local author and wondered if you can help me with the whole idea:

Quote:

Deu 27:1 And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.

Deu 27:2 And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister:

Deu 27:3 And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.

Deu 27:4 Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, [that] ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaister them with plaister.

Let me get it straight. After plaistering the stones with plaister, Moses commanded his people to write the words of the law on them. That makes sense if you paint the words right on the surface of the stone, so they look more visible. But after writing the words he commands them to plaister the stones again??? The words would get covered under the layer of plaister. I know; if the words were engraved, the plaister probably would serve to protect them and they still be visible. But, in that case, why plaister the stones the first time??? The carving would only remove or scratch the plaister layer without any purpose.

Probably I'm missing something about the procedure to write on the stones in those times. Is it so? :huh: Help, please. Would love to hear your opinion.

HaRaAYaH · 09-02-2008, 10:51 PM

According to The Torah (or via: amazon.co.uk) A Modern Commentary:

Quote:

The construction of verses 2-4 is difficult and the translation uncertain.
Coat them with plaster. And afterwards inscribe them, according to the Egyptian practice. This method preserved the inscription better than incision in the stone which often weathered badly.

The Torah A Modern Commentary, Page 1515

mg01 · 09-03-2008, 06:42 AM

I wonder if this could be etiological? Did such a monument perhaps already exist and the author of Deutronomy attribute their existance as having been instructed by Moses? IIRC, Joshua, after parting the Jordan, is said to have setup 12 massabots, but I don't recall any stone monument such as mentioned here. Is there a followup to this anywhere else in the Torah?

andrewcriddle · 09-03-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mg01

I wonder if this could be etiological? Did such a monument perhaps already exist and the author of Deutronomy attribute their existance as having been instructed by Moses? IIRC, Joshua, after parting the Jordan, is said to have setup 12 massabots, but I don't recall any stone monument such as mentioned here. Is there a followup to this anywhere else in the Torah?

See Joshua 8 30-35

Andrew Criddle

Crimson Glory · 09-03-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaRaAYaH

According to The Torah (or via: amazon.co.uk) A Modern Commentary:

Quote:

The construction of verses 2-4 is difficult and the translation uncertain.
Coat them with plaster. And afterwards inscribe them, according to the Egyptian practice. This method preserved the inscription better than incision in the stone which often weathered badly.

The Torah A Modern Commentary, Page 1515

Thanks, pal. This probably solves the puzzle.

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09-03-2008, 06:42 AM	#3
mg01 Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 197	I wonder if this could be etiological? Did such a monument perhaps already exist and the author of Deutronomy attribute their existance as having been instructed by Moses? IIRC, Joshua, after parting the Jordan, is said to have setup 12 massabots, but I don't recall any stone monument such as mentioned here. Is there a followup to this anywhere else in the Torah?

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