Deuteronomy 27:2
On that day — About that time, for it was not done 'till some days after their passing over.... [ Continue Reading ]
On that day — About that time, for it was not done 'till some days after their passing over.... [ Continue Reading ]
This law — The law properly so called, that is, the sum and substance of the precepts or laws of Moses, especially such as were moral, particularly the decalogue. Write it, that thou mayest go in — As the condition of thy entering into the land. For since Canaan is given only by promise, it must be... [ Continue Reading ]
Mount Ebal — The mount of cursing. Here the law is written, to signify that a curse was due to the violators of it, and that no man could expect justification from the works of the law, by the sentence whereof all men are justly accused, as being all guilty of the transgression of it in one kind and... [ Continue Reading ]
Whole stones — Rough, not hewed or polished. By the law written on the stones, God spake to them: by the altar and sacrifices upon it, they spake to God: and thus was communion kept up between them and God.... [ Continue Reading ]
The people of the Lord — By thy solemn renewing of thy covenant with him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Upon mount Gerizzim — These words may be rendered beside or near to mount Gerizzim. There were in Canaan two mountains that lay near together, with a valley between, one called Gerizzim, the other Ebal. On the sides of these which faced each other, all the tribes were to be drawn up, six on a side,... [ Continue Reading ]
To curse — Of the former tribes, 'tis said, they stood to bless the people: of these, that they stood to curse. Perhaps the different way of speaking intimates, That Israel in general were an happy people, and should ever be so, if they were obedient. And to that blessing, they on mount Gerizzim sai... [ Continue Reading ]
The Levites — Some of the Levites, namely, the priests, who bare the ark, as it is expressed Joshua 8:33, for the body of the Levites stood upon mount Gerizzim, Deuteronomy 27:12. But these stood in the valley between Gerizzim and Ebal, looking towards the one or the other mountain as they pronounce... [ Continue Reading ]
Cursed — The curses are expressed, but not the blessings. For as many as were under the law, were under the curse. But it was an honour reserved for Christ to bless us; to do that which the law could not do. So in his sermon on the mount, the true mount Gerizzim, we have blessings only. The man — Un... [ Continue Reading ]
Light — Or, despiseth in his heart: or reproacheth or curseth, secretly: for if the fact was notorious, it was punished with death.... [ Continue Reading ]
Out of the way — That misleadeth simple souls, giving them pernicious counsel, either for this life, or for the next.... [ Continue Reading ]
Smiteth — That is, killeth. This includes murder under colour of law, which is of all others the greatest affront to God. Cursed therefore is he that any ways contributes to accuse, or convict, or condemn an innocent person.... [ Continue Reading ]
Confirmeth not — Or, performeth not. To this we must all say, Amen! Owning ourselves to be under the curse, and that we must have perished for ever, if Christ had not redeemed us from the curse of the law, by being made a curse for us.... [ Continue Reading ]