Deuteronomy 27

Deuteronomy 27:11-26

To keep these laws near in their remembrance, Moses, 1. Commands them to be written on them, ver. 1—10. 2. To effect their hearts with the importance of them, a solemn rehearsal is resumed, and their consent to them as solemnly to be given, ver. 11—26.

1. AND Moses with the elders of Israel, commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day. 2. And it shall be on the day when you shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaster them with plaster. 3. And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayst go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey: as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee. 4. Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaster them with plaster. 5. And there shall thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron seal upon them. 6. Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt-offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God. 7. And thou shalt offer peace-offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God. 8. And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly. 9. ¶ And Moses, and the priests the Levites, make unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel, this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God. 10. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day.

2. 1—10. The law being delivered, care is here taken to have the record preserved and attended to; for which purpose, 1. Moses, with the priests and princes of the people, that their numbers and dignity might give weight to the admonition, solemnly charges the people to be obedient. They were now in a distinguished manner declared to be the people of God, and therefore must approve themselves as became such a relation. Note, (1.) All who have weight and influence over others, should join in promoting the work of religion among them. (2.) The honour and blessing of God’s service is an obligation strong to serve him. (3.) When ministers and magistrates show themselves zealous in their station for God, it is much to be hoped, that the people will hear and follow such good examples. 2. That none may plead ignorance, a copy of the law is ordered to be written on large stones plastered over. Some think this refers only to the ten commandments; others, to the curfew, 15—26. Whilst others affirm all this book of Deuteronomy was intended. Note, The word of God is so plain, that wilful ignorance of it is wilful sin. Besides this, an altar must be erected for sacrifice; perhaps it was on the four sides of this law was written. It must be built of stones unborn and plain; for God’s service requires no ornaments: he demands not the gilded altar, but the holy heart. Burnt-offerings and peace-offerings were sacrificed, to intimate how necessary it was to have the remedy of atoning blood near from the condemnation

Before Christ’s

decision of a holy law; and they are commanded to eat and rejoice before the Lord: for they, who through the sacrifice of Jesus are reconciled to God, delivered from the curle of the law, and admitted into a covenant of grace, have need to rejoice in the Lord, and glory in the God of their salvation. All these inflictions are typical of our divine Redeemer. On him are our curles laid; he is at once our altar and sacrifice; and whosoever eats his flesh, and drinks his blood, cannot but rejoice before the Lord with joy unipuskable, and full of glory.

11. ¶ And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, 12. These shall stand upon mount Gerizium to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Ilfachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin. 13. And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curle; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14. And the Levites shall speak, and lay unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, 15. ¶ Curled be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place: and all the people shall answer and say, Amen. 16. ¶ Curled be he that fetteth light by his father or his mother: and all the people shall say, Amen. 17. ¶ Curled be he that removeth his neighbour’s land-murle: and all the people shall say, Amen. 18. ¶ Curled be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way: and all the people shall say, Amen. 19. ¶ Curled be he that preventeth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow: and all the people shall say, Amen. 20. ¶ Curled be he that lieth with his father’s wife; because he uncovereth his father’s skirt: and all the people shall say, Amen. 21. ¶ Curled be he that lieth with any manner of beall: and all the people shall say, Amen. 22. ¶ Curled be he that lieth with his father, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother: and all the people shall say, Amen. 23. ¶ Curled be he that lieth with his mother-in-law: and all the people shall say, Amen. 24. ¶ Curled be he that fmiteth his neighbour secretly: and all the people shall say, Amen. 25. ¶ Curled be he that taketh reward to day an innocent person: and all the people shall say, Amen. 26. ¶ Curled be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them: and all the people shall say, Amen.

The places here mentioned were two rising mountains, divided by a valley, on each of which the people were ranged, six tribes on one hill, and six on the other, and the priests in the middle; who, on reading each of the blessings and curles, pushed a moment, and the people on each side made the awful response. The blessings, though not mentioned, seem to have been the counter-part of the curles, and pronounced alternately. And here we may observe, 1. That the appointment of the tribes for their several paths, is expressly appointed of God. The six more honourable tribes are appointed to bless: they are all the children of the five women, and Levi is reckoned among them; for they who preach the blessing or curle to others, need first apply them to their own hearts. 2. They are all called to join in their Amen, on the rehearsal of the curles, as well as blessings. In the latter case they expressed their desire after them; in the former, their confession of faith in the certainty of the threatened curle, their approbation of the sentence as just, and an awful conversation upon their souls, if they transgressed. Thus out of their own mouths would they be condemned. Note, (1.) The curles of God against sin are awful realities. (2.) Ministers must urge the terrors of the Lord to persuade, as well as the love of Christ to constrain; and all little enough to influence the hard heart of man. (3.) In the day of God every sinner will be struck speechless, and left without excuse.

The curles are all levelled against some particular breaches of the commandments, except the lait, which includes every transgression against the whole law. The first curle lights on transgression of the second commandment. A graven or molten image must not only not be worshipped, but not so much as made to let up in secret: so much must they be fenced off from temptation to idolatry. Note, God sees what is done in secret, as well as in public, and will not fail to bring it into judgment. 2. Contempt of father or mother is highly criminal. To ill-uile them in word or deed, was cognizable by the judges; but God sees father, and he lays his curle upon those children who only in heart flight or contents their parents. 3. The removing land-murle; wilfully misleading those who come to us for advice and direction; and perverting the judgment of the poor and destitute; all breaches of the seventh commandment, have each their just judgment pronounced on them. 4. Various crimes of incest and beflainty, horrid violations of the

eighth commandment, are laid under the dreadful order. ¶ Murder, whether by poison or the sword, in secret, or under pretence of law, through perjured witnesses, or wicked judges, condemning the innocent, is sure to meet a reconciled of vengeance. Note, (1.) No murder so concealed, but God will bring it to light. (2.) There will be a re-hearing of every cause, when the unjust judge, or perjured villain, will feel the weight of innocent blood. 6. The last curle is most extent five, comprehending every transgression, and denouncing wrath on the offender. It is this especially which must cover every living soul with confusion, and, but for Jesus Christ, would sink us under eternal condemnation.