Midrash su Deuteronomio 27:8

Our Rabbis were taught: How did the Israelites write the Torah? R. Juda said: "Upon stones did they describe it as it is said (Deut. 27, 8) And thou shalt write upon the stone all the words of the Torah, and afterwards it was covered with plaster." R. Simon then said to him: "According to your opinion how were then the nations able to study the Torah from the stones?" Whereupon he replied: "The Holy One, praised be He, gave the nations exceptional wisdom so that they sent their representatives who removed the plaster from the stones and copied the Torah from it. In that moment, the nation's decree was issued in punishment for their not having studied the Torah." R. Simon said: "The Torah was written upon plaster, and below it is inscribed (Ib. 20, 18) hi order that they may not teach you to do in accordance with all their abominations. From this it may be inferred that if the nations will repent, they are to be accepted." Raba b. R. Shila said: "What is the reason of R. Simon's theory [that it was written upon plaster]? Because it is written (Is. 33, 12) And the people shall be burnt as lime; i.e., on account of the Torah which was written on lime." But R. Juda will explain that this means, just as there is no remedy for lime, except fire, so also will there be no salvation [with those nations who do not adhere to the Torah], except burning. In accordance with whom will the following Baraitha agree? (Deut. 49, 10) And thou takest captives of them. This includes also the Canaanites residing outside the land of Israel, who if desirous to return in repentance that they should be accepted. (Fol. 36) The above Baraitha is in accordance with the opinion of R. Simon.

Come and see how many miracles were wrought on that day! — Israel crossed the Jordan, came to Mt. Gerizem and Mt. Ebal, which is a distance of more than sixty miles; no creature of the world could stand against them [Israel], and whoever did stand against them, became ill immediately, as it is said (Ex. 23, 27) My terror will I send before thee, and will discomfit all the people to whom thou shall come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee, and again it is said (Ib. 15, 16) Terror and dread falleth upon them; by the greatness of Thine arm they are as still as a stone: till Thy people pass over, O Lord, this refers to the first entrance into the land of Israel; Till these people pass over, which Thou hast purchased, this refers to the second entrance into the land of Israel. Hence it may be inferred that Israel deserved that a miracle should be wrought for them, in the second entrance [during the days of Ezra], just as it happened during the first entrance; however, Israel's sin prevented the fulfillment of this. Afterwards they brought [on that very same day] stones and erected an altar, covered it with plaster and inscribed upon it the entire Torah in seventy languages, as it is said (Deut. 27, 8) Very plainly. They then offered burnt and peaceofferings, afterwards they ate, drank and rejoiced. They then pronounced the blessings [facing Mt. Gerizim] and the curses [facing Mt. Ebal] and they packed up the stones and spent their night in Gilgal, as it is said (Jos. 4, 3) And ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place. One may assume that they should be carried to each and every lodging place; it is therefore said (Ib.) Where ye will lodge this night, and again it is written (Ib.) And those twelve stones, which they had taken out of the Jordan did Joshua set up in Gilgal. We are taught in a Baraitha: The hornet did not cross the Jordan with Israel. Is this so? Behold it is written (Ex. 23, 29) I will send the hornet before thee, and it shall drive out, [hence it did pass the Jordan]? Said Resh Lakish: "It remained on the banks of the Jordan and from there threw its poison which blinded their eyes and rendered them impotent, as it is said (Amos 2, 9) Yet have I destroyed the Ammorite from before them, whose height was like the height of cedars, and who was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above and his roots from beneath." R. Papa said: "There were two kinds of hornets, one mentioned by Moses and the other by Joshua. The one mentioned by Moses did not pass the Jordan, but the one mentioned by Joshua did pass the Jordan." [Hence the above contradiction is explained].