Preparation to build an altar on Mt. Ebal in promised land 1
Listen and obey 9
Curses for idolatry, deception, etc. 15
Curses for adultery of various types 20
Curses for murder; and neglecting the law 24
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¶ 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 ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister: 3 And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest 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 plaister them with plaister. |
1 -
With the elders Perhaps because they would assume more responsibility
after the death of Moses. The priests taught the people de3109.
2 - Stones Jewish commentators say there were three monuments of this type: one here, one at Gilgal jos0420, and one on Mount Ebal v4. 2 - Palister A process of a cement-type surface was prepared for pigmented writing and was not permanent. The process was used in Egypt. In other places inscriptions were carved into the stone. 3 - This law Probably the actual legislation instead of the consequences of obedience and disobedience we see beginning at v14. The Hebrew word is torah which means sacred instruction. It is also applied to the first section of the Bible ending with Deuteronomy. At this point, we assume the first definition. 4 - At Ebal See de1129. |
| 5 And there shalt thou
build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not
lift up any iron tool 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. |
6 -
Whole stones See on jos0831.
Burnt offerings le0103. Peace offerings For appreciation of God le0301. Link codes point to the first verse of passages. |
| .9
And Moses and the priests the Levites spake 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. |
Moses,
priests, Levites They would have had a relay system to communicate
the speaker's words.
This day ... people of the Lord They were about to cross the Jordan and receive the land of the covenant promise. Obey See 1pe0201. |
| .11
¶ And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,
12 These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin: 13 And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. .14 And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, |
12 - Gerizim It and Ebal can be seen on the Canaan map. The speakers would stand in the valley between the two hills. Those tribes or perhaps their representatives responding to the blessings descended from Rachel and Leah. Those from Zilpah and Bilhah together with Zebulum, Leah's youngest, and Reuben would respond to the curses. Reuben forfeited his birthright by his sin against his father ge3522, ge4904. |
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Cursed 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 Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. .17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen. 18 Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen. .19 Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen. |
15
- Image See for example ex2004,
ex3417,
je1003,
ho0806,
is4019,
is4409.
16 - Setteth light by That is, considering them unimportant or with contempt. ex2117, le2009. 18 - Blind Apparently this would include those who didn't understand. Many scams mislead people today. le1914. |
| .20
Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his
father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.
21 Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen. 22 Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. 23 Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen. |
Lieth with The only way is purity. On homosexuality, see le2013 and ro0124-27. |
| .24
Cursed be he that smiteth [strikes or [NKJV, "attacks"] his neighbour secretly.
And all the people shall say, Amen.
25 Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen. .26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen. |
24
- Smiteth ... secretly
"Smiteth-That is, killeth ex2013, ex2112, le2417. This includes murder under colour of law, which is of all others the greatest affront to God. Cursed therefore is he that any ways contributes to accuse, or convict, or condemn an innocent person." (JW Notes) |
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