YT 14 Joshua part 9 Deut.

27:1-13

The Book of Joshua

Deuteronomy 27:1-13

Recapping:

Out with the Old ~ In with the New

Out with the old and in with the new ~ “and He brought us out from there [Egypt],
that He might bring us in, to give us the land which He sware unto our fathers”
(Deuteronomy 6:23).

Thus, the Jordan stones that were covered with water demonstrate that old
things are passed away; and the Jordan stones carried out to Gilgal declare ~ behold all
things are new. In Gilgal is the memorial of the event of that which was in Joshua’s day,
and will be as a prophetic pictorial in the future day of the remnant of Israel. The LORD
will give Israel her promised land.

The Calendars of Glory

In the last lesson, we also looked at God’s calendar: how He measures time. Set
in God’s mathematical, synchronized and prearranged order of the lights in the heavens
to give light on the earth ~ God set the Greater Light ~ the sun, “shining” on the stars
with their signs declaring in figure the message of the Eternal Covenant of the Son of
the Covenant.

The Lesser Light: the moon, is figurative of the nation Israel. The moon’s
seasons or phases declare the appointed times: a determined time or place of the
seasons of the life of the Covenant Son.

Neither the natural law of the sun’s path or the moon’s renewal can be changed
as the universe is ruled by mathematical equations. All is by the design of the Creator
as a pictorial of His Eternal Covenant: the hope of Eternal life offered in the Son of the
Covenant.

Introduction into Deuteronomy

On the day that Israel crossed over the Jordan, they were to set up stones in
Gilgal; in the Jordan; and also on Mount Ebal. The instructions of how Israel was to
worship on Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim is recorded in Deuteronomy.

The book Deuteronomy completes the Pentateuch, “the five books of Moses,” or
“the five books of the law.” The name given to the book is taken from the Greek
translation and is understood to mean a “repetition of the law,” or, literally, a “second
law.”

While Deuteronomy does review the legislation recorded in Exodus, Leviticus,

and Numbers it is not a mere copy of these statues.
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This “second law” rehearses and amends: gives a correction to the law that had
been already sanctioned with the first generation under particular circumstances, with a
special purpose and in an unusual literary form.

The Circumstances ~ The Land of Promise

The particular circumstances which require the amending is the entering in of the
land of Canaan promised as a possession. Basically, the sum and substance of the
purpose of the amendment is the appeal for obedience to God.

The first-generation Israel had perished in the wilderness and the new generation
is about to enter in. Moses as the legislator had rehearsed the law to the people
entering the land of Canaan as a permanent home; pleading with them to be loyal and
obedient to the Covenant God.

The literary form of the book is a series of three orations, all delivered within the
period of a few days. The first address delivered in chapters 1-4 is the introductory, and
embodies the message of the whole book.

Second Address

The second address (chapters 5-26) which forms the main portion of the book
and divided into two parts is a restart and an exposition of the law delivered at Sinai.

Part One of Oration 2

Part one of the second address begins with a recital of the Ten Commandments.
The theme of the second oration may be found in the most famous verse of
Deuteronomy, “Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy might” (chapter 6:5).

This exhortation is reinforced by the reference to the deliverance from Egypt, the
mercies of the wilderness journey, the experiences at Sinai, and the assurance of an
entrance into the Land Promised.

Part Two of Oration 2

Part two of the second address, chapters 22-26 records statutes relative to the
law, justice and private social life.

Third Address

The third and last address (chapters 27-32) ~ the final appeal for loyalty on the
part of the people expounds on that which was to be enacted as the law of the land
written upon the stones erected on Mount Ebal and sanctioned by the most solemn
statement of Blessing and Cursing.

The last couple of chapters in Deuteronomy deal with the closing days of Moses.
So now that we have our introduction let’s look at Moses’ final appeal.
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The Great Stones of Ebal

Deuteronomy 27:1-13:

“And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the
commandments which I command you this day. 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 plaster them with plaster: 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.”

“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 plaster them with
plaster. And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones:
thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them.”

“Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt
offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God: And thou shalt offer peace
offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God. And thou shalt
write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”

“And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take 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 and His
statutes, which I command thee this day. And Moses charged the people the same day,
saying, These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come
over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin:
And these shall stand upon Mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and
Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.”

The order of this ceremony for the establishment of the kingdom in Joshua’s
day is: The Law written on great stones; the Altar of Stones; the Offerings; and the
climax of the ceremonial Blessing and Cursing upon the two mounts.

This ceremony is a prophetic pictorial figurative of the future generation Israel:

the remnant Israel who will receive her land from the Conqueror as a Betrothal gift.

Chapters 1-5 of Joshua tells the end of the story of God’s plan for a kingdom of
God on earth. Those are the ways of God. He lays out the whole plan first and then
proceeds to fill in the details.

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The Law written on the Great Stones

Now concerning the writing of the Law on the great stones ~ as said the essence
of the law was contained in the “Ten Commandments”. How many of the enactments
were transcribed is needless to conjecture, suffice it to say what was written was clearly
understood as the Law of the LORD.

The main theme of thought is that words of the Law were to be plastered on the
stones.

Mount Ebal

Mount Ebal is composed primarily of limestone. Limestone is used as a building

material, and to purify iron in blast furnaces. It is also used in the manufacturing of
glass, and of cement~ one of the components of concrete.

Thus, that which was erected was a structure of substance and strength large
enough to be plastered with the information of “the way of salvation” ~ the Law of the
Land to be easily seen and read. The great stones of Ebal are set in contrast to the
Altar of stones.

The great stones of Ebal is a man-made structure demonstrating the loyalty on

the part of the people to the Covenant of their God, while the other ~ the altar of stones
signifies the Covenant to be all God’s doing.

Altar of Stones

On Mount Ebal, the mount of Cursing, Israel is to build an altar of stones. The
altar is not to have any iron tool in the making of it. It is an altar of whole stones on
which they are to offer burnt offerings and peace offerings unto the LORD their God and
rejoice before the LORD their God.

The first mention of iron is in Genesis 4:22 with reference to Tubal Cain: a forger
in brass and iron. "Iron" is used to illustrate slavery, strength, obstinacy, fortitude,
affliction, etc., (Deuteronomy 28:48, Job 40:18, Isaiah 48:4, Jeremiah 1:18 Ezekiel
22:18, 20 and Daniel 2:33).

Iron was used for hammers, axes and vessels. Many of the instruments of war
were fashioned of this metal. Thus, this altar is not to have any connection to anything
man made.
The altar of stones as a place of death ~ figures the cross. Meaning that
although the cross was man made ~ the fact is that the Covenant is all of God. The
Covenant Son was delivered [unto the death of the cross] by the determinate counsel
and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:23).

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Burnt and Peace Offerings of the Levitical Offerings

There were five (grace) main offerings: the Burnt offering, the Meal offering, the
Peace offering, the Sin offering, the Trespass offering and occasionally a Drink offering
making the total number of offerings ~ six. Six is the ordinal for man. This is a picture of
the offering of Grace by the One man ~ Jesus.

All the Levitical offerings declared the glory of God and within the symbolism of
the animals offered was the figurative teaching of the message of the Covenant Son.

Figure of the Offerings

Thus, in each of the Levitical offerings, is the figurative message of the One
offering of Spirit being of Deity ~ the offering of Himself for all of mankind once for all
time, and for all eternity.

Also contained in the teaching is the one sacrifice of His body ~ the Seed grain of
Life Eternal. All the offerings are distinct in character. All the offerings required the
animal to be without spot or blemish and always the substitute was to be put to death.

Within each offering the Covenant Son is portrayed in three roles ~ as

worshipper, the offering, and Priest.

The Worshipper

As Worshipper ~ The Covenant Son as the Son of Man offering the offering ~
worships the Father in the very spirit of His being in spirit and in truth. The Covenant
Son is God’s One man, who will judge the whole world in righteousness ~ lifted up that
He might draw all men unto Himself.

Not only does Jehovah have One righteous man, His birthed Son, He has one
sinless worshipper to be the mediator of the New Covenant, His first begotten Son.
Because Jesus worshipped the Father, we can worship the Father.

The Offering

As the Offering ~ the animal offered. By the one offering of the body of the Son
of the Covenant, God is glorified in the execution of a righteous sentence.

The sin and its forgiveness have nothing whatsoever to do with nor is it in any
way conditional on our repentance or faith. Our repentance of faith is ours; but the
forgiveness of the sin and all that entails is all God’s doing.

God approaches man in all the fullness of His grace and declares Himself to be
Savior God. The Son of the Covenant endured death as the only acceptable substitute.
His death meets the wages of the sin. Thus, with sin judged in God’s eyes not a stain of
guilt, not a spot of contamination remains.

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As Priest ~ the Covenant Son is the mediator between God and man, the
intercessor or arbitrator for God on man’s behalf. The priest as the peacemaker is the
attendant or minister of spiritual sacrifices pertaining to God.

Two Classes of Offerings

There were two classes of offerings ~ the sweet savor and the non-sweet savor
offerings. The ordinal two witnessing of a true testimony.
Obviously from the names of the classes of offerings ~ sweet and non-sweet is
the description and witness of the figurative message of that which “tastes” good to God
and that which does not.

Sweet Savor Offerings

The three sweet savor offerings: The Burnt offering, the Meal offering and the
Peace offering were consumed on the altar of sacrifice called the altar of Burnt offering
located in the outside court of the tabernacle.

The altar of Burnt offering was known as the table of Jehovah (Malachi 1:7-13).
Whatever was put on the table was the food of God, His sustenance (Leviticus 21:6, 8,
17, 21-22).
In the sweet savor offerings, the offerings are laid one upon another, in figure
presenting the figurative message of grace upon grace as the Covenant Son ~ God’s
Seed ~ stands in the stead as a Man in perfect holiness.

Non-Sweet Savor Offerings

The second class of offerings, the non-sweet savor offerings consisted of two
offerings. The Sin offering and the Trespass offering. Obviously sin and trespasses
have a “bitter” taste in the mouth of God.

In the order or listing of the law of the six offerings the burnt offering is listed first;
though in the order of service, it was second following the sin offering. God’s issue is
Life ~ man’s issue is sin. It is God’s son, the burnt offering that must first put sin away
so that man can have Life.

In order for there to be an offering for sin for God’s creation of mankind, there
must first be the offering of the whole-hearted offering of the Covenant Son. He must
willingly offer Himself first ~ the Burnt offering, and then as the offering for sin,
trespasses, peace, meal and drink.

Grade of Offerings

Also contained within the teaching of the Levitical offerings is the multi figurative
memorial message of the grade of offerings used in the service of the offerings.

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The figurative message is revealed not only in the language of numerology but in
the grade of the offerings used. Meaning: there are different animals used for the
different offerings. Each of the animals and their grade is figurative of a certain aspect of
the person and work of the Covenant Son.

There are three types of animals with the specific regulations pertaining to each
to be sacrificed in the Burnt offering.

The three types of animals used were (1) Offerings from the herd (ram, bullock),
vv.3-9, (2) Offerings from the flock (a sheep or a goat), vv. 10-13 and (3) Offerings of
birds (turtledoves or pigeons), vv.14-17. What a person offered as a burnt offering was
dependent on what one could afford. No one was excluded from being able to offer and
offering.

The animal to be offered in the Burnt offering was always to be of the highest
quality. Offerings from the herd or flock must be male. The highest of the “highest”
grade of animal offered was the ram.

The ram figuratively is the animal that speaks of the Consecrated Righteousness
of the Appointed Substitute of the Covenant Son as the 1st Begotten Son of God from
the dead as is declared in the Eternal Covenant of the stars with their signs ~
specifically in the star sign Aries. The Ram is the conclusion of Eternal Life in the
Covenant Son.

Scheduled times for Burnt Offerings

There was to be regularly scheduled times for the Burnt offering. Burnt offerings
were to be every day, in the morning and the evening (Exodus 29:38-42; Numbers 28:3-
4; 2 Chronicles 2:4, etc.).

An additional Burnt offering was to be offered each Sabbath day (Numbers 28:9-
10) and at the beginning of each month (Numbers 28:11).

Also, the Burnt offering was to be offered at the celebration of Passover on the
14th day of the 1st month (Numbers 28:16); along with the new grain offering at Feast of
Weeks (Numbers 28:27); at the feast of Trumpets, on the sacred day in the 7th month
(Numbers 29:1-2); and for the celebration of the new moon (Numbers 29:6).

Finally, a Burnt offering was often offered in conjunction with other sacrifices.
Among these were the guilt offering (Leviticus 5:7, 10, 17-18), the sin offering (Leviticus
9:2, 3, 7), the votive or freewill offering (Leviticus 22:18), and the sheaf offering
(Leviticus 23:12).

Mount Offerings at Ebal

Thus, looking at the two offerings stacked one upon the another ~ offered on the
altar of stones at Mount Ebal ~ with the smoke ascending to the heavens, is the
figurative pictorial of the spirit being of Deity ~ the Birthed Son of God offering Himself
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~ the Burnt offering ~ as Worshipper of God in spirit and in truth; and as the Peace
offering between God and man ~ the Intercessor, the High Priest as the 1st Begotten
Son of God. So why would Mount Ebal, the place of cursing, be where God has them
place the Altar? Because Jesus was made a curse for us (Galatians 3:13).

The “burnt offering” indicated that the offeror was wholly dedicated to the LORD
while the “peace offering” showed that the offeror as a worshipper, was giving thanks
unto God for His unsought generosity ~ God’s peace. The peace offering therefore was
essentially a praise offering to God for His goodness.

Thus, in the offering of the offerings on the altar of stones in Mount Ebal Israel
demonstrated both their whole dedication to the LORD their God on the basis of the
Seed of the Woman ~ the Covenant Son; as well as the worshipping the LORD their
God ~ giving thanks for His unsought generosity and goodness.

Both offerings are connected to the land Promised. Everything in the book of
Joshua is tied to the figurative fulfilment of the Covenant Son’s plan for a kingdom of
sons of God with His nation Israel as the head of the nations.

The stones in Jordan covered in the waters are old things passed away. Stones
in Gilgal are all things made new. The great stones in Ebal are the “constitution” of the
kingdom of God. It sets the figurative pictorial of the witness of the new life for the nation
with peace on earth and good will towards men.
The Two Mounts ~ Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim

As mentioned ~ Mount Ebal composed primarily of limestone is the mount were

Israel was to plaster great stones with plaster and write on them all the words of the
Law.

Figure of the Name Mount Ebal

Ebal means “heaps of nothing; heaps of confusion.” Life under the sun apart from
the receiving of the Seed of the Eternal life ~ is “heaps of nothing; heaps of confusion.”

Mount Ebal is the mount of cursing. The testimony of the law of Ebal is: the way
of salvation; and to refuse the way of salvation is cursing ~ death. To refuse salvation a
person’s life will end up as heaps of nothing, heaps of confusion. All the different ways
that God makes Himself know is because He loves.

Figure of the Name Mount Gerizim

Gerizim has the meaning “the cutters off.”

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Figuratively the name expresses the receiving of the Seed of the Eternal life seen
symbolically in next event to take place ~ at Gilgal ~ the circumcision of the foreskin of
the flesh.

The Ceremony of the Two Mounts

Finally, the last of the sacred ceremonies authorized under the authority of
Moses (carried out by Joshua) that was to take place was the two groups of people who
were to stand upon each mount of the sons of Israel ~ one group of people for each
mount.

The figurative pictorial of the symbolism of the action of the standing upon the
respective mounts of these two groups is understood in the order on the listing of the
Mounts and names of these sons of Israel ~ in light of the Eternal Covenant of the
heavenly revelation.

The blessing of the inheritance of the Land of Promise is on the basis of the 1st
born son ~ Jesus the Covenant Son is the 1st born son of the kingdom ~ He is the 1st
Begotten Son of God ~ the result of the curse borne in the body of the Birthed Son of
God.

The “sons” of Israel of Mount Gerizim ~ figurative of 1st Begotten Son of God

“These” on the Mount of Gerizim figure God the Son ~ Deity come in the likeness
of man ~ raised in a body of flesh ~ the 1st Begotten Son of God ~ life of that body spirit
life ~ Eternal life.

“These” on the mount of blessing figure the blessing of the Seed of the Eternal
life offered in the Son of the Covenant for mankind.

Simeon: “Listening” ~ The Station of Bearing/The Atonement

Levi: “Joined” ~ Realms united under a new jurisdiction in Kingdom

Judah: “Praise” ~ To the King come, The Divine King

Issachar: “Hired” (Servant of Jehovah) ~ The kingdom is embraced and secured

by the King

Joseph: “Add Thou Jehovah” ~ The Ruler of the earth is enthroned to do right

Benjamin: “Son of my Right Hand” ~ The Shepherd King ~ Jesus of Nazareth,

conjoint with His people ~ Israel.

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The “sons” of Israel of Mount Ebal

Figurative of the Birthed Son of God

“These” on the Mount of Ebal figure God the Son ~ Deity come in the likeness of
man ~ clothed in a body of flesh that He might bear in His body the curse of sin and
death for mankind.

Reuben: “See a Son” ~ Birthed in the Seed of Man

Gad: “A Troop” ~ The Conqueror

Asher: “Happy” ~ The Propitiation

Zebulun: “Dwelling” ~ among men as the Consecrated Appointed Substitute

Dan: “Judging” ~ The enmity of man in the flesh

Naphtali: “My Wrestling” ~ The Seed of the Woman, the Son Given.

With all the pictorials of the two mounts ~ one can see that it is all God’s doing
and not man’s doing.

The Valley in Between

In between the two mounts is a valley. A valley is a low area of land between
hills or mountains, typically with a river or stream flowing through it. In that valley are the
Levites ~ the priests.

The priests are figurative of the water bearers speaking forth the wonderful
Words of the Water of Life. They were to announce the blessings and the curses to
which the “these” on the mounts were to answer and say, “Amen” (Deuteronomy 27:14-
26).

As a preparatory to the promises and warnings recorded in the following chapter,

the Levites were to pronounce 12 woes. As the ordinal 12 is the last of the perfect
numbers, it is the number that signifies the perfection of government or governmental
perfection. The kingdom of God on earth, the government of God will be run by a
kingdom of Priest.

The number figuratively “completes” the prophetic message of the governmental

rule of God as perfect ~ just as the luminaries of the Eternal Covenant declare; and
Psalm 19 of the written word confirms.

Hence these woes were to rest upon any who were guilty of idolatry, of disloyalty
to parents or neighbors, or of unnatural crimes or acts of violence. To these
imprecations ~ cursing’s, the people were to say, “Amen.”

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It has sometimes been questioned if the reading of the law could be heard by the
people in the way described. It has been tested that the acoustics at the formation of
the sides of the valley at the narrowest part leave no reasonable doubt as to the
possibility.

Last but not Least the Figurative Pictorial of the Literal Landscape

Remembering that God uses both the literal and figurative expressions in the
making Himself known and that both methods must agree and bear witness one with
the other.

The two must be in complete harmony, totally balanced in their union of the Truth
as the message pertains to the text under discussion. The two methods of
communication must be one in their purpose and design ~ there cannot be any
disagreement.

There is seen within the literal scenery of the wide sweeping panoramic view of
the landscape a figurative pictorial. The question one should be asking is ~ why these
two mounts?

Both mounts were nourished by the same water source and same climate.
However, Mount Ebal was empty and barren. Nothing growing on it ~ it is void of life ~
as it was stony hard.

Mount Gerizim on the other hand is full of lush vegetation all the way up the
mountain. Thus, within the symbolism of the ceremony taking place on the two mounts
was also the literal pictorial should one want to dismiss the symbolism.

Thus, the constitution ~ the Law of the LORD ~ the God of all the earth erected in
the Land of Promise was boldly declared for all to see ~ with purpose and design.

“Choose life that both thou and thy seed may live; that you may love the LORD
your God, that you may obey His voice, and cleave to Him for He is your life…”
(Deuteronomy 30:15-20).

This concludes our lesson. If you’d like to prepare for next time please read Joshua 5:1-
9, Genesis 15 -17.

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