Deuteronomy 27

Deuteronomy 27:1

I Command you] That is, Moses Gods Minister: Or, God by his Minister Moses.

Deuteronomy 27:2

great stones, and plaister] These were not stones for building of an Altar; but beeing smoothed over with plaister they served for another use noted in the next verse.

Deuteronomy 27:3

write upon them] What was written, see Annot. 5: 8. and for the reason why we may conceive it to be, for that God would have his Law set up in the borders of the Land of Canaan, that all that looked thereon might know that the Land was dedicated to his service; and that the twelve Tribes (according to whose number it is probable the stones were twelve) were especially obliged to obedience to the Law of God upon their actuall possession of the promised Land.

Deuteronomy 27:4

mount Ebal] See the Annot. on vers. 12.

Deuteronomy 27:5

iron toole] The Altar should not be curiously wrought, because it was to continue but for a time: for God would have but one Altar in Judah; and as yet the Arke not having a certaine place, the Altar was to be but such a one as might serve for the present occasion, and afterwards be easily demolished.

Deuteronomy 27:8

upon the stones] That is, not upon the stones of the Altar, vers. 5, 6. but upon the stones which were plaistered, vers. 4.

this law] Not the whole Booke of Deuteronomie, or Exodus, but the principall part of the Law, which is the ten Commandements, with some other selected parcels of most use for edification of the people, which were (as some conceive) the blessings and cursings upon Mount Gerezzim and Mount Ebal, vers. 12, 13.

very plainly] So that it may be easily and readily read by those who are least skilfull in reading.

Deuteronomy 27:9

this day thou art become] See Annot. on Chap. 26. vers. 17, 18.

Deuteronomy 27:12

These shall stand] See Annot. on Chap. 11. 29.

upon] Joshua 8:33. It is said, over against; yet no contradiction: for they that stood upon the one stood over against the other.

mount Gerezzim] Is a Mountaine neere the Citie Shechem, Judges 9:7. Neere unto it, (onely a little valley betwixt them) is Mount Ebal, which vers. 4. was named before Mount Gerezzim, because the curses after-mentioned pronounced from the top of Ebal, take up a very great part of the Chapter.

Simeon, and] Onely the Tribes who were borne of the wives of Jacob; Leah, and Rachel, (though not all of them (for Reuben and Zebulun were the sonnes of Leah, and stood upon Mount Ebal) are named first, and have the more honourable part applied to them, which is to assist at the pronouncing of blessings upon Mount Gerezzim.

Joseph] Meaning Ephraim and Manasseh his sonnes, in whom he had a double portion; for they were each of them reputed, and provided for as severall Tribes.

Deuteronomy 27:13

curse] Signifying, that if they would not obey God for love, they shall be made to obey for feare.

Deuteronomy 27:14

the Levites] That is, the Priests of the Tribe of Levi, Joshua 8:33. standing with the Arke in the valley betwixt two hils, whose office from God was to pronounce not onely blessings, Numbers 6:23. at which they looked towards Mount Gerezzim, but curses, at which they turned their faces toward Mount Ebal, to which the Tribes fore-named were (by their presence and saying, Amen) to signifie their assent.

loud voyce] So loud that all might heare; or those who were neere, beginning their Amen with a loud voyce, the rest might take it from them; and from them againe others, till it went through all the company.

Deuteronomy 27:15

image] Under this he containeth all the corruption of Gods service against the first Table.

in a secret place] God will not indure Idolatry in secret: much lesse when it is committed with publique scandall.

say, Amen] That is, some of them shall say, Amen, at the pronunciation of the blessings, some at the denunciation of the curses, as they are before distributed among the Tribes.

Amen] Signifieth truth: or, be it true: and that either importeth a protestation, that it shall be so; or a prayer, that it may be so.

Deuteronomy 27:17

land-marke] To enlarge his owne portion, and to take from another mans: or diminish the inheritance of his father, to gratifie a friend. See 1 Kings 21:3.

Deuteronomy 27:18

blind to wander] When their eyes should rather guide him, and their hands lead him in the right way. See Job 29:15.

Deuteronomy 27:20

fathers skirt] See Annot. on Chap. 22. 30.

Deuteronomy 27:26

to doe them] Conformitie in worke is the best confirming of the words of the Law; yet the Law is so perfect, and all men since the fall so imperfect, that it is not onely a rule for our life, but a rod upon discovery of our failings to make us runne to Christ the Lord of life for safetie against the second death, Galatians 3:24.