Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 11

Verses 1-32

As Moses concluded his great call to the people to the pathway of obedience, he reminded them what varied experiences they had had from which they knew the nature of the government and power of God.

He wooed them toward obedience by speaking of the excellencies of the land to which they were going and by contrasting it with the land of Egypt from which they had come. Egypt was the place of forced cultivation. The new land was one watered, and loved, and watched by God.

For all material prosperity in this new land they therefore must depend entirely on God, knowing that His answers of blessing would depend in turn on their obedience to His law. He told them that they would move to possession of the land and all its wealth in unhindered power in proportion as they maintained the position of unquestioning obedience.

Very solemnly he called them to remember that he had set clearly before them the way of blessing and the way of cursing, finally ordaining on Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, a solemn ceremony of blessing and cursing. Concerning these he gave more detailed instructions at a later period.