271 'And Moses—the elders of Israel also—commandeth the people, saying, Keep all the command which I am commanding you to-day; 2 and it hath been, in the day that ye pass over the Jordan unto the land which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee, that thou hast raised up for thee great stones, and plaistered them with plaister, 3 and written on them all the words of this law in thy passing over, so that thou goest in unto the land which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee—a land flowing with milk and honey, as Jehovah, God of thy fathers, hath spoken to thee. 4 'And it hath been, in your passing over the Jordan, ye raise up these stones which I am commanding you to-day, in mount Ebal, and thou hast plaistered them with plaister, 5 and built there an altar to Jehovah thy God, an altar of stones, thou dost not wave over them iron. 6 Of complete stones thou buildest the altar of Jehovah thy God, and hast caused to ascend on it burnt-offerings to Jehovah thy God, 7 and sacrificed peace-offerings, and eaten there, and rejoiced before Jehovah thy God, 8 and written on the stones all the words of this law, well engraved.' 9 And Moses speaketh—the priests, the Levites, also—unto all Israel, saying, 'Keep silent, and hear, O Israel, this day thou hast become a people to Jehovah thy God; 10 and thou hast hearkened to the voice of Jehovah thy God, and done His commands, and His statutes, which I am commanding thee to-day.'
11 And Moses commandeth the people on that day, saying, 12 'These do stand, to bless the people, on mount Gerizzim, in your passing over the Jordan: Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 And these do stand, for the reviling, on mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14 'And the Levites have answered and said unto every man of Israel—a loud voice: 15 'Cursed 'is' the man who maketh a graven and molten image, the abomination of Jehovah, work of the hands of an artificer, and hath put 'it' in a secret place,—and all the people have answered and said, Amen. 16 'Cursed 'is' He who is making light of his father and his mother,—and all the people have said, Amen. 17 'Cursed 'is' he who is removing his neighbour's border,—and all the people have said, Amen. 18 'Cursed 'is' he who is causing the blind to err in the way,—and all the people have said, Amen. 19 'Cursed 'is' he who is turning aside the judgment of fatherless, sojourner, and widow,—and all the people have said, Amen. 20 'Cursed 'is' he who is lying with his father's wife, for he hath uncovered his father's skirt,—and all the people have said, Amen. 21 'Cursed 'is' he who is lying with any beast,—and all the people have said, Amen. 22 'Cursed 'is' he who is lying with his sister, daughter of his father, or daughter of his mother,—and all the people have said, Amen. 23 'Cursed 'is' he who is lying with his mother-in-law,—and all the people have said, Amen. 24 'Cursed 'is' he who is smiting his neighbour in secret,—and all the people have said, Amen. 25 'Cursed 'is' he who is taking a bribe to smite a person, innocent blood,—and all the people have said, Amen. 26 'Cursed 'is' he who doth not establish the words of this law, to do them,—and all the people have said, 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.