_A.M. 2553. B.C. 1451._ A command to wrote all the law upon stones, Deuteronomy 27:1. A charge to Israel to obey God, Deuteronomy 27:9; Deuteronomy 27:10. To pronounce a blessing on mount Gerizim, and a curse on mount Ebal, Deuteronomy 27:11. To the Levites, to pronounce the whole curse, Deuteronom... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moses with the elders_ Having in discourses at several times repeated the principal parts of the laws, and made several necessary additions to them, Moses called the council together, and summoned the body of the people to attend them at the tabernacle; where, after an earnest exhortation to observ... [ Continue Reading ]
_On the day_ Here it is evident the word _day_ does not signify precisely the very same day they passed over, but some indefinite time after, namely, as soon as they were come to mount Ebal, (Deuteronomy 27:4,) after the taking of Jericho and Ai. See Joshua 8:30. _All the words of this law _ Some ha... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whole stones_ Rough, not hewn, nor polished, whereby all manner of imagery was avoided. _Shalt offer burnt-offerings thereon_ In order to ratify their covenant with God, as they did at Horeb. By the law written on the stones God spake to them; by the altar and sacrifices upon it they spake to God,... [ Continue Reading ]
_The priests spake unto all Israel_ They assisted Moses in pressing the people to attend duly to the meaning and design of this solemnity. _Thou art become the people of the Lord_ By thy solemn renewing of thy covenant with him.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Upon mount Gerizim_ The original words may be rendered _beside_ or _near to mount Gerizim._ There were in Canaan two mountains that lay near together, with a valley between, the one called Gerizim, the other Ebal. On the sides of these which faced each other, all the tribes were to be drawn up, six... [ Continue Reading ]
_To curse_ Of the former tribes, it is 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 a happy people, and should ever be so, if they were obedient. And to that blessing, they on mount Gerizim said... [ 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 Gerizim, Deuteronomy 27:12. But these stood in the valley between Gerizim and Ebal, looking toward the one or the other mountain as they pronounced e... [ 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 Gerizim, we have blessings only. _The man that... [ Continue Reading ]
_That setteth light_ Or _despiseth_ in his heart; or _reproacheth_ or _curseth_ secretly: for if the fact were 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 the colour of the law, which is of all others the greatest affront to God. Cursed therefore is he that any way 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 ]