20:25 tool . . . profane. The reasons for this prohibition are no longer clear. Some suggest that this provision was designed to prevent the Israelites from using the altars of Canaanite holy places, which typically were constructed of cut stones. The altar of burnt offering for the tabernacle was of wood, covered with bronze, but was hollow and filled with earth or uncut stones (27:8). See note Deut. 27:5.