Joshua carried out what Moses had commanded him to do. He set up stones and covered them with plaster (Deuteronomy 27:2–8). After the plaster hardened, the instructions (Hebrew torah, meaning God’s teaching or law) were permanently placed on public display. This took place at the first location where Israel formally worshiped the Lord after entering the land.
Public displays of laws were common in the ancient world. A well-known example is the Code of Hammurabi, which King Hammurabi set up so people could see the laws.