11 And Moses H4872 charged H6680 the people H5971 the same day, H3117 saying, H559
12 These shall stand H5975 upon mount H2022 Gerizim H1630 to bless H1288 the people, H5971 when ye are come over H5674 Jordan; H3383 Simeon, H8095 and Levi, H3878 and Judah, H3063 and Issachar, H3485 and Joseph, H3130 and Benjamin: H1144
13 And these shall stand H5975 upon mount H2022 Ebal H5858 to curse; H7045 Reuben, H7205 Gad, H1410 and Asher, H836 and Zebulun, H2074 Dan, H1835 and Naphtali. H5321
14 And the Levites H3881 shall speak, H6030 and say H559 unto all the men H376 of Israel H3478 with a loud H7311 voice, H6963
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Deuteronomy 27
Commentary on Deuteronomy 27 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 27
Moses having very largely and fully set before the people their duty, both to God and one another, in general and in particular instances,-having shown them plainly what is good, and what the law requires of them,-and having in the close of the foregoing chapter laid them under the obligation both of the command and the covenant, he comes in this chapter to prescribe outward means,
Deu 27:1-10
Here is,
Deu 27:11-26
When the law was written, to be seen and read by all men, the sanctions of it were to be published, which, to complete the solemnity of their covenanting with God, they were deliberately to declare their approbation of. This they were before directed to do (ch. 11:29, 30), and therefore the appointment here begins somewhat abruptly, v. 12. There were, it seems, in Canaan, that part of it which afterwards fell to the lot of Ephraim (Joshua's tribe), two mountains that lay near together, with a valley between, one called Gerizim and the other Ebal. On the sides of these two mountains, which faced one another, all the tribes were to be drawn up, six on one side and six on the other, so that in the valley, at the foot of each mountain, they came pretty near together, so near as that the priests standing betwixt them might be heard by those that were next them on both sides; then when silence was proclaimed, and attention commanded, one of the priests, or perhaps more at some distance from each other, pronounced with a loud voice one of the curses here following, and all the people that stood on the side and foot of Mount Ebal (those that stood further off taking the signal from those that stood nearer and within hearing) said Amen; then the contrary blessing was pronounced, "Blessed is he that doth not so or so,' and then those that stood on the side, and at the foot, of Mount Gerizim, said Amen. This could not but affect them very much with the blessings and curses, the promises and threatenings, of the law, and not only acquaint all the people with them, but teach them to apply them to themselves.