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Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 27:1-10
As soon as they were come into Canaan, they must set up a monument, on which they must write the words of this law. They must set up an altar. The word and prayer must go together. Though they might not, of their own he…
The Exhibition of the Law. (b. c. 1451.)
THE EXHIBITION OF THE LAW. (B. C. 1451.) Here is, I. A general charge to the people to keep God's commandments; for in vain did they know them, unless they would do them. This is pressed upon them, 1. With all authority…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:1-10
Safeguards for obedience. The enthusiasm of Moses for God's Law is admirable, and no less admirable is his earnest desire for Israel's prosperity. That self-forgetful zeal for others' good was one main qualification in…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:1-26
PART III.—THIRD DISCOURSE OF MOSES. THE COVENANT RENEWED. CHAPTERS 27-30. EXPOSITION Deuteronomy 27:1-26. INSTRUCTIONS AS TO THE PUBLISHING OF THE LAW IN CANAAN. HAVING set forth the laws and rights of Israel with speci…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:1-8
The first instruction respects the setting up of pillars on which the Law was to be inscribed. Such a mode of publishing laws or edicts was common in ancient times. Pillars of stone or metal, on which laws were inscribe…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:1
All the commandments, etc.; all that up to this time I have enjoined upon you. The reference is to the entire Law as given by Moses.
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:1-10
Very plainly. These words, "very plainly," suggest three lines of thought. I. THEY SHOW SOMETHING THAT WAS ORDERED TO BE, viz. that the Law of God was to be written very plainly, as the permanent, standard expression of…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:1-10
Law-abiding people. We have here a direction about writing, upon great stones in Mount Ebal, the words of the Divine Law. Whether this meant only the blessings and curses, as Josephus thinks, or an abstract of Deuterono…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:1-8
The stones on Ebal. This chapter is significant, as letting in light on the design of the Law, and on the nature of the Jewish covenant. We see from it: 1. That the Law could not give life. 2. That it was not designed t…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:2
On the day when ye shall pass over Jordan; i.e. at the time; "day" is here used in a wide sense (cf. Genesis 2:4; Numbers 3:1; 2 Samuel 22:1; Ecclesiastes 12:3; Isaiah 11:10, etc.). Thou shalt set thee up great stones,…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:3
All the words of this law; i.e. all the purely legislative parts of the Mosaic institute. By the "Law" here cannot be intended merely the blessings and the curses afterwards mentioned (Deuteronomy 27:14-26); nor is ther…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:4
The stones were to be set up on Mount Ebal (cf. Deuteronomy 11:29). The Samaritan Codex and Version have Gerizim here, in place of Ebal; but though some critics have accepted this, it is generally regarded as an arbitra…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:5-7
Besides the monumental stones, an altar of whole stones, on which no tool had passed (cf. Exodus 20:22) was to be erected, and burnt offerings and peace offerings were to be presented as at the establishment of the cove…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:8
The injunction to write the Law on the stones is repeated, with the addition that it was to be done very plainly (LXX; σαφῶς σφόδρα: Vulgate, plane et lucide), which shows that the main purpose of setting up the stone…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:9
Take heed; literally, Be silent; LXX; σιώπα, with silent attention listen (cf. Zechariah 2:13).
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 27:11-26
The six tribes appointed for blessing, were all children of the free women, for to such the promise belongs, Ga 4:31. Levi is here among the rest. Ministers should apply to themselves the blessing and curse they preach…
The Curses from Ebal. (b. c. 1451.)
THE CURSES FROM EBAL. (B. C. 1451.) 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 deliberat…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:11-14
Having set up the Law and renewed the covenant in Canaan, Israel was to proclaim upon the land the blessing and the curse of the Law, as already commanded (see Deuteronomy 11:29). For this purpose six tribes were to sta…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:11-26
Ebal and Gerizim. This ceremony turns on the idea of the Law as primarily entailing a curse. Blessings and curses were both to be recited (Deuteronomy 27:12, Deuteronomy 27:13). But the curse seems to have been first pr…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:11-26
The Decalogue nationally reciprocated. It is obvious that the same God who prescribed its Jewish Law is the Creator also of the human conscience; for, just as the sword fits its scabbard, or as cog corresponds with cog…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:11-26
Responses. After the writing of the Law, and the sacrifices, there was to be a great congregation, and half of the people were to assemble on Mount Gerizim to bless, viz. Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Ephraim, Manasseh…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:11-26
A grand "Amen!" It is more than possible that, with the strong disposition there is nowadays to look on Judaism as obsolete, the chapter before us may be very frequently passed over as if full of curses that no longer h…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:13
These shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; literally, These shall stand upon the curse on Mount Ebal; i.e. it shall belong to them to utter the curse.
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:14
The Levites—standing probably in some convenient spot midway between the two mountains (cf. Joshua 8:33)—were to pronounce with a loud voice the blessing and the curse, so that all might hear; and the people were to giv…