And it shall be on the day when you shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set yourselves up great stones, and plaster them with plaster:
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Stones. The Latin translation of the Samaritan copy, defines the number to be two, (Exodus xx. 18,) and shows that the law, which was to be written upon them, was no other than the decalogue, to which the curses and blessings here recorded have a direct reference. When no number is specified, the dual is commonly understood. (Haydock) (Leviticus xii. 5)
Two large stones would be sufficient to contain the words of the decalogue, and they would more strikingly represent the two tables written with the finger of God. They were probably first polished, and the letters raised upon them in relievo, as the Arabic marbles in the University of Oxford are done. The white plaster being then used to fill up the interstices between the letters of black marble, the words would appear very plainly. (Kennicott, Dis. 2.)
Others think that a high and durable monument was raised both for an altar and for the inscription, though some would allow four others for this purpose. (Calmet)
Plaster. The Hebrew does not specify all over; and Houbigant supposes, that the cement was only used to join the stones together. Neither do the Hebrew or Septuagint intimate that the plaster was laid on for the purpose of writing more easily.
