Deuteronomy 27:1-20
attention ..... commandments <08104 04687> [Keep all.]
When <03117> [on the day.]
land <0776> [unto the.]
great stones <01419 068> [great stones.]
cover .... plaster <07874> [and plaister.]
Houbigant and others are of opinion that the original words, {wesadta othom beseed}, should be rendered "thou shalt cement them with cement," because this was intended to be a durable monument. Some suppose that the writing was to be in relievo, and that the spaces were to be filled up by the mortar or cement; as is frequently the case with eastern inscriptions.
inscribe <03789> [thou shalt.]
law <08451> [this law.]
This law probably means only the blessings and curses mentioned in this and the following chapter; which indeed contain an epitome of the whole law.
land .......... land <0776> [a land.]
Mount Ebal <02022 05858> [in mount Ebal.]
The Samaritan text has in mount Gerizim; which has given rise to a violent controversy. Dr. Kennicott suppose that the Jews corrupted this passage out of their enmity to the Samaritans, who had their temple on mount Gerizim; while Dr. Parry and H. Verschuir defend the present reading: to the writings of these authors the reader is referred.
build <01129> [And there.]
use .... tool <05130> [thou shalt not.]
burnt offerings <05930> [burnt offerings.]
fellowship offerings <08002> [peace offerings.]
rejoicing <08055> [rejoice.]
inscribe <03789> [thou shalt.]
making ... clear <03190 0874> [very plainly.]
Today <03117> [this day.]
Mount Gerizim <02022 01630> [upon mount Gerizim.]
Mount Gerizim and mount Ebal being only separated by a narrow valley, not above a furlong broad, what was spoken with a loud voice on the one might be heard on the other, (See Jud 9:7.) It is probable, however, that the particle {Æ’l} should be rendered by, as it frequently signifies; for when this direction was reduced to practice, (Jos 8:33,) it seems that the people did not stand on the mountains, but over against them in the plain. But the Talmud says, that six tribes went up on each, while the priest and Levites and the ark remained beneath.
Simeon <08095> [Simeon.]
Mount Ebal <05858 02022> [mount Ebal.]
curse <07045> [to curse. Heb. for a cursing. Reuben.]
Cursed .... one <0779 0376> [Cursed be.]
makes <06213> [maketh.]
something abhorrent <08441> [an abomination.]
sets it up <07760> [and putteth.]
people <05971> [And all.]
Amen <0543> [Amen.]
To each of the curses the people were to say Amen, as well as to the blessings; to denote a profession of their faith in the truth of them, that they were the real declarations of the wrath of God; and an acknowledgement of the equity of these curses. It was such an imprecation upon themselves, as strongly obliged them to have nothing to do with those evil practices on which the curse is entailed. We read of those who entered a curse to walk in God's law. Ne 10:29. All the people, by saying this Amen, became bound one for another, that they would observe God's laws, by which every man was obliged, as far as he could, to prevent his neighbour from breaking these laws, and to reprove those that had offended, lest they should bear sin and the curse for them.
