271 Then Moses and the elders of Israel charged the people , saying , "Keep all the commandments which I command you today . 2 " So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which the Lord your God gives you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime 3 and write on them all the words of this law , when you cross over , so that you may enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey , as the Lord , the God of your fathers , promised you. 4 "So it shall be when you cross the Jordan , you shall set up on Mount Ebal , these stones , as I am commanding you today , and you shall coat them with lime . 5 "Moreover, you shall build there an altar to the Lord your God , an altar of stones ; you shall not wield an iron tool on them. 6 "You shall build the altar of the Lord your God of uncut stones , and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the Lord your God ; 7 and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there , and rejoice before the Lord your God . 8 "You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very distinctly ." 9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel , saying , "Be silent and listen , O Israel ! This day you have become a people for the Lord your God . 10 "You shall therefore obey e the Lord your God , and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today ."
11 Moses also charged the people on that day , saying , 12 "When you cross the Jordan , these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people : Simeon , Levi , Judah , Issachar , Joseph , and Benjamin . 13 "For the curse , these shall stand on Mount Ebal : Reuben , Gad , Asher , Zebulun , Dan , and Naphtali . 14 "The Levites shall then answer and say to all the men of Israel with a loud voice , 15 'Cursed is the man who makes an idol or a molten image , an abomination to the Lord , the work of the hands of the craftsman , and sets it up in secret .' And all the people shall answer and say , 'Amen .' 16 ' Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother .' And all the people shall say , 'Amen .' 17 ' Cursed is he who moves his neighbor's boundary mark.' And all the people shall say , 'Amen .' 18 ' Cursed is he who misleads a blind person on the road .' And all the people shall say , 'Amen .' 19 ' Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien , orphan , and widow .' And all the people shall say , 'Amen .' 20 ' Cursed is he who lies with his father's wife , because he has uncovered his father's skirt .' And all the people shall say , 'Amen .' 21 ' Cursed is he who lies with any animal .' And all the people shall say , 'Amen .' 22 ' Cursed is he who lies with his sister , the daughter of his father or of his mother .' And all the people shall say , 'Amen .' 23 ' Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law .' And all the people shall say , 'Amen .' 24 ' Cursed is he who strikes his neighbor in secret .' And all the people shall say , 'Amen .' 25 ' Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to strike down an innocent person .' And all the people shall say , 'Amen .' 26 ' Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.' And all the people shall say , 'Amen .'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:1-30
Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:1-10
(Read 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 heads, set up any altar besides that at the tabernacle; yet, by the appointment of God, they might, upon special occasion. This altar must be made of unhewn stones, such as they found upon the field. Christ, our Altar, is a stone cut out of the mountain without hands, refused by the builders, as having no form or comeliness, but accepted of God the Father, and made the Head of the corner. In the Old Testament the words of the law are written, with the curse annexed; which would overcome us with horror, if we had not, in the New Testament, an altar erected close by, which gives consolation. Blessed be God, the printed copies of the Scriptures among us, do away the necessity of such methods as were presented to Israel. The end of the gospel ministry is, and the end of preachers ought to be, to make the word of God as plain as possible. Yet, unless the Spirit of God prosper such labours with Divine power, we shall not, even by these means, be made wise unto salvation: for this blessing we should therefore daily and earnestly pray.
Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:11-26
(Read Deuteronomy 27:11-26)
The six tribes appointed for blessing, were all children of the free women, for to such the promise belongs, Galatians 4:31. Levi is here among the rest. Ministers should apply to themselves the blessing and curse they preach to others, and by faith set their own Amen to it. And they must not only allure people to their duty with the promises of a blessing, but awe them with the threatenings of a curse, by declaring that a curse would be upon those who do such things. To each of the curses the people were to say, Amen. It professed their faith, that these, and the like curses, were real declarations of the wrath of God against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, not one jot of which shall fall to the ground. It was acknowledging the equity of these curses. Those who do such things deserve to fall, and lie under the curse. Lest those who were guilty of other sins, not here mentioned, should think themselves safe from the curse, the last reaches all. Not only those who do the evil which the law forbids, but those also who omit the good which the law requires. Without the atoning blood of Christ, sinners can neither have communion with a holy God, nor do any thing acceptable to him; his righteous law condemns every one who, at any time, or in any thing, transgresses it. Under its awful curse we remain as transgressors, until the redemption of Christ is applied to our hearts. Wherever the grace of God brings salvation, it teaches the believer to deny ungodliness and wordly lusts, to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, consenting to, and delighting in the words of God's law, after the inward man. In this holy walk, true peace and solid joy are to be found.