Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 27

Introduction

Overview

Deuteronomy 27:1, The people are commanded to write the law upon stones, Deuteronomy 27:5, and to build an altar of whole stones; Deuteronomy 27:11, The tribes to be divided on Gerizim and Ebal; Deuteronomy 27:14, The curses to be pronounced on mount Ebal.

Verse 1

Keep all: Deuteronomy 4:1-3, Deuteronomy 11:32, Deuteronomy 26:16, Luke 11:28, John 15:14, 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:2, James 2:10

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 28:1 - If thou shalt Deuteronomy 30:1 - the blessing Joshua 4:3 - twelve stones Joshua 8:30 - in mount Ebal

Verse 2

on the day: Deuteronomy 6:1, Deuteronomy 9:1, Deuteronomy 11:31, Joshua 1:11, Joshua 4:1, 5-24

unto the: Deuteronomy 27:3, Deuteronomy 26:1

great stones: Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26

and plaster: 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.

Reciprocal: Joshua 8:32 - General Job 19:24 - graven

Verse 3

thou shalt: Joshua 8:32, Jeremiah 31:31-33, 2 Corinthians 3:2, 2 Corinthians 3:3, Hebrews 8:6-10, Hebrews 10:16

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.

a land: Deuteronomy 6:8, Deuteronomy 26:9, Leviticus 20:24, Numbers 13:27, Numbers 14:8, Joshua 5:6, Jeremiah 11:5, Jeremiah 32:22

Reciprocal: Exodus 3:8 - unto a good Leviticus 14:34 - When Deuteronomy 4:44 - General Deuteronomy 27:2 - unto the Deuteronomy 27:8 - thou shalt Job 19:24 - graven Ezekiel 20:6 - flowing

Verse 4

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. Deuteronomy 11:29, Deuteronomy 11:30, Joshua 8:30-33

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 27:13 - mount Ebal

Verse 5

And there: Exodus 24:4, Joshua 8:30, Joshua 8:31, 1 Kings 18:31, 1 Kings 18:32

thou shalt not: Exodus 20:25

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 6:7 - built of stone

Verse 6

burnt offerings: Leviticus 1:1-17, Ephesians 5:2

Reciprocal: Exodus 20:25 - And Joshua 8:31 - altar 1 Kings 6:7 - built of stone

Verse 7

peace offerings: Leviticus 3:1-17, Leviticus 7:11-17, Acts 10:36, Romans 5:1, Romans 5:10, Ephesians 2:16, Ephesians 2:17, Ephesians 2:16, Ephesians 2:17, Colossians 1:20, Hebrews 13:20, Hebrews 13:21

rejoice: Deuteronomy 12:7, Deuteronomy 12:12, Deuteronomy 16:11, Deuteronomy 16:14, Deuteronomy 26:10, Deuteronomy 26:11, 2 Chronicles 30:23-27, Nehemiah 8:10, Psalms 100:1, Psalms 100:2, Isaiah 12:3, Isaiah 61:3, Isaiah 61:10, Habakkuk 3:18, Philippians 3:3, Philippians 4:4

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:12 - Aaron Joshua 8:31 - and they offered

Verse 8

thou shalt: Deuteronomy 27:3

very plainly: Habakkuk 2:2, John 16:25, 2 Corinthians 3:12

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 4:44 - General Joshua 8:32 - General Job 19:24 - graven

Verse 9

this day: Deuteronomy 26:16-18, Romans 6:17, Romans 6:18, Romans 6:22, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Ephesians 5:8, Ephesians 5:9, 1 Peter 2:10, 1 Peter 2:11

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 4:23 - heed 2 Samuel 7:24 - art become Psalms 114:2 - General Acts 2:14 - hearken

Verse 10

Deuteronomy 10:12, Deuteronomy 10:13, Deuteronomy 11:1, Deuteronomy 11:7, Deuteronomy 11:8, Leviticus 19:2, Micah 4:5, Micah 6:8, Matthew 5:48, Ephesians 4:17-24, 1 Peter 1:14-16, 1 Peter 4:1-3

Verse 11

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 1:16 - charged

Verse 12

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 note on Judges 9:7). It is probable, however, that the particle âl should be rendered by, as it frequently signifies; for when this direction was reduced to practice - Joshua 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. Deuteronomy 11:26-29, Joshua 8:33, Joshua 8:34, Judges 9:7

Simeon: Genesis 29:33-35, Genesis 30:18, Genesis 30:24, Genesis 35:18

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 11:29 - put the blessing Psalms 114:2 - General John 4:20 - fathers

Verse 13

mount Ebal: Deuteronomy 27:4, Deuteronomy 11:29, Joshua 8:33

to curse: Heb. for a cursing

Reuben: Genesis 29:32, Genesis 30:6-13, Genesis 30:20, Genesis 49:3, Genesis 49:4

Verse 14

Deuteronomy 33:9, Deuteronomy 33:10, Joshua 8:33, Nehemiah 8:7, Nehemiah 8:8, Daniel 9:11, Malachi 2:7-9

Reciprocal: Joshua 8:34 - blessings Nehemiah 5:13 - Amen Nehemiah 13:25 - cursed

Verse 15

Cursed be: Deuteronomy 28:16-19, Genesis 9:25, 1 Samuel 26:19, Jeremiah 11:3

maketh: Deuteronomy 4:16-23, Deuteronomy 5:8, Exodus 20:4, Exodus 20:23, Exodus 32:1-4, Exodus 34:17, Leviticus 19:4, Leviticus 26:1, Isaiah 44:9, Isaiah 44:10, Isaiah 44:17, Hosea 13:2, Hosea 13:3

an abomination: Deuteronomy 29:17, 1 Kings 11:5-7, 2 Kings 23:13, 2 Chronicles 33:2, Isaiah 44:19, Ezekiel 7:20, Daniel 11:31, Matthew 24:15, Revelation 17:4, Revelation 17:5

and putteth: Genesis 31:19, Genesis 31:34, 2 Kings 17:19, Psalms 44:20, Psalms 44:21, Jeremiah 23:24, Ezekiel 8:7-12, Ezekiel 14:4

And all: Numbers 5:22, Jeremiah 11:5, Jeremiah 28:6, Matthew 6:13, 1 Corinthians 14:16

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 acknowledgment 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. Nehemiah 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.

Reciprocal: Leviticus 18:27 - General Deuteronomy 27:26 - Cursed Deuteronomy 28:15 - all these curses Deuteronomy 29:20 - all the curses Deuteronomy 29:27 - all the curses Judges 18:30 - set up 1 Samuel 14:24 - Cursed 1 Kings 1:36 - Amen 1 Kings 11:7 - abomination 2 Kings 17:9 - secretly 1 Chronicles 16:36 - said 2 Chronicles 15:8 - abominable idols 2 Chronicles 32:19 - the work Job 5:3 - cursed Psalms 41:13 - Amen Psalms 78:58 - with Psalms 97:7 - Confounded Psalms 119:21 - cursed Isaiah 34:5 - the people Isaiah 41:24 - an abomination Isaiah 44:13 - that it may Jeremiah 4:1 - put away Lamentations 3:65 - thy Daniel 9:11 - the curse Zechariah 5:3 - the curse Matthew 25:41 - ye cursed Romans 9:5 - Amen Galatians 1:8 - let

Verse 16

Deuteronomy 21:18-21, Exodus 20:12, Exodus 21:17, Leviticus 19:3, Proverbs 30:11-17, Ezekiel 22:7, Matthew 15:4-6

Reciprocal: Genesis 4:11 - General Genesis 9:25 - Cursed Leviticus 20:9 - curseth Deuteronomy 5:16 - that thy days Judges 17:2 - cursedst 2 Samuel 18:9 - taken up Proverbs 6:20 - General Proverbs 20:20 - curseth Proverbs 23:22 - Hearken Isaiah 45:10 - General Mark 7:10 - Whoso Romans 1:30 - disobedient Ephesians 6:2 - General Colossians 3:20 - obey 1 Timothy 1:9 - murderers Hebrews 12:9 - we gave

Verse 17

Deuteronomy 19:14, Proverbs 22:28, Proverbs 23:10, Proverbs 23:11

Reciprocal: Job 24:2 - landmarks Hosea 5:10 - remove

Verse 18

Leviticus 19:14, Job 29:15, Proverbs 28:10, Isaiah 56:10, Matthew 15:14, Revelation 2:14

Reciprocal: Genesis 27:12 - and I shall

Verse 19

Deuteronomy 10:18, Deuteronomy 24:17, Exodus 22:21-24, Exodus 23:2, Exodus 23:8, Exodus 23:9, Psalms 82:2-4, Proverbs 17:23, Proverbs 31:5, Micah 3:9, Malachi 3:5

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:22 - General Exodus 23:6 - General Leviticus 19:15 - General Deuteronomy 16:19 - wrest Job 22:9 - widows Proverbs 23:11 - General Jeremiah 7:6 - oppress Jeremiah 22:3 - do no violence Ezekiel 22:7 - dealt Zechariah 7:10 - oppress Luke 18:3 - a widow 1 Timothy 5:3 - widows

Verse 20

Deuteronomy 22:30, Genesis 35:22, Genesis 49:4, Leviticus 18:8, Leviticus 20:11, 2 Samuel 16:22, 1 Chronicles 5:1, Ezekiel 22:10, Amos 2:7, 1 Corinthians 5:1

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 18:9 - taken up

Verse 21

Exodus 22:19, Leviticus 18:23, Leviticus 20:15

Verse 22

Leviticus 18:9, Leviticus 20:17, 2 Samuel 13:1, 2 Samuel 13:8-14, Ezekiel 22:11

Verse 23

Leviticus 18:17, Leviticus 20:14

Reciprocal: Leviticus 20:11 - General Leviticus 20:12 - lie Ezekiel 22:10 - discovered

Verse 24

Deuteronomy 19:11, Deuteronomy 19:12, Exodus 20:13, Exodus 21:12-14, Leviticus 24:17, Numbers 35:31, 2 Samuel 3:27, 2 Samuel 11:15-17, 2 Samuel 12:9-12, 2 Samuel 13:28, 2 Samuel 20:9, 2 Samuel 20:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:6 - secret Exodus 21:14 - slay Exodus 21:15 - General

Verse 25

Deuteronomy 10:17, Deuteronomy 16:19, Exodus 23:7, Exodus 23:8, Psalms 15:5, Proverbs 1:11-29, Ezekiel 22:12, Ezekiel 22:13, Micah 3:10, Micah 3:11, Micah 7:2, Micah 7:3, Matthew 26:15, Matthew 27:3, Matthew 27:4, Acts 1:18

Reciprocal: Proverbs 6:17 - and hands

Verse 26

Cursed: Deuteronomy 27:15, Deuteronomy 28:15-68, Psalms 119:21, Matthew 25:41, 1 Corinthians 16:22

confirmeth: Jeremiah 11:3-5, Ezekiel 18:24, Romans 3:19, Romans 3:20, Romans 10:5, Galatians 3:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 2:17 - surely Exodus 32:19 - brake them Deuteronomy 4:44 - General 2 Chronicles 33:8 - to do all Matthew 5:19 - shall break Romans 2:12 - in the law 2 Corinthians 3:6 - for Galatians 5:3 - a debtor Philippians 3:9 - which is of the Hebrews 2:2 - every James 2:10 - whosoever Revelation 22:3 - there