Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

27:1-8 Moses looks ahead to a covenant ceremony upon arrival in the land. Significantly, this ceremony is conducted at Shechem (see note on vv. 4-5), the place where God first made the promise of land to Abram (Gen. 12:6-7).

27:2-3 on the day. Not necessarily the precise day but simply meaning "when." plaster them with plaster. White plaster provides a backdrop against which the writing may be seen clearly and distinctly. write on them all the words of this law. The writing of the law is in addition to the permanent written record (31:24-26).

27:4-5 today. See note on vv. 2-3. Mount Ebal is on the north side of Shechem (see 11:29 and note on 27:1-8). This ceremony occurs on the mountain of curse (see v. 13) to show that the law functions as a witness against Israel because of its inevitable sin. wield no iron tool. Israel's altars were to be of unhewn stone (Ex. 20:25). Excavations at Mount Ebal have uncovered a worship site with a large altar (30 x 23 feet/9.1 x 7 m) constructed of unhewn stones, accessed by a gently sloping ramp. The pottery dates to the Israelite settlement (cf. Josh. 8:30-32). This perhaps is the altar that Joshua built or is built on top of Joshua's altar.

27:6-7 Burnt offerings were the basic sacrifices dealing with sin (Leviticus 1). The law written on the plastered stones exposes Israel's sin, so that burnt offerings are required. After their sins are atoned for, peace offerings celebrate fellowship with God (Leviticus 3).

27:9 this day you have become the people of the Lord your God. Cf. Ex. 19:5-6; Deut. 7:6; 14:2. The covenant relationship is being renewed rather than initiated. The covenant of Horeb is renewed at Moab through the words of Deuteronomy, especially chs. 29-30. Then, after the conquest, it will be renewed at Shechem (Joshua 24).

27:12-13 Mount Gerizim is to the south side of Shechem, Shechem being on the shoulder of the two mountains, Gerizim and Ebal (see 11:29; note on 27:4-5; and map). These verses describe a ceremony in which Israel hears blessings and curses concerning the law. In this chapter, however, there are only curses read by the Levites (cf. ch. 28). See Josh. 8:30-35 for the carrying out of these instructions (cf. Joshua 24). On Gerizim, see John 4:20.

27:14 Levites must refer to the Levitical priests, since the rest of the tribe of Levi are on Mount Gerizim (see v. 12).

27:15 On images, see 5:8-10. in secret. This list of 12 curses lifts the level of punishment for disobedience to the law from human to divine jurisdiction. The theme of secrecy (27:24) shows that even if a person's crime may be undetected, that person remains under God's curse. "Amen." All the people express their acceptance of the justice and judgment of God.

27:16 On dishonoring father and mother, see 5:16.

27:17 On one's neighbor's landmark, see 19:14.

27:18 On misleading the blind, see Lev. 19:14.

27:19 On perverting justice, see 24:17-18.

27:20-22 On uncovering one's father's nakedness, see 22:30 and Lev. 18:8. On lying with an animal, see Lev. 18:23. On lying with one's sister, see Lev. 18:9.

27:24 On striking down one's neighbor, see 19:11.

27:25 On taking a bribe, see 16:19.

27:26 The list of 12 curses is not comprehensive; it is a sample of the law, not a summary of it. Cf. Paul's use of this verse in Gal. 3:10 to argue that the law requires perfect, and humanly unattainable, obedience.

28:1-68 The focus shifts from the specific sins that warrant curses to the content of the curses, preceded by a shorter list of blessings. The blessings of vv. 1-14 are the converse of the curses in vv. 15-68. The greater length devoted to the curses (54 verses compared to 14 verses for blessings) is suggestive of Israel's future.

28:1 high above all the nations. See 26:19.

28:3-6 For parallel curses, see vv. 16-19. city . . . field . . . come in . . . go out. The coupling of opposites implies comprehensiveness (cf. note on 6:7-9). fruit. The emphasis on fertility challenges the Canaanite view that Baal was the fertility god.

28:7 your enemies . . . to be defeated. Cf. v. 25.

28:9 a people holy. See 7:6 and note.

28:12 lend to many nations. Israel will be wealthy as a result of God's blessing; cf. 15:6. According to 23:20 these loans to other nations would be loans at interest (cf. note on 23:19-20). Cf. 28:44.

28:23 bronze. Unable to bring rain. iron. Unable to be tilled.

28:30 betroth a wife. Cf. 24:5. build a house . . . plant a vineyard. Cf. 20:5-7.

28:44 lend . . . head . . . tail. Cf. vv. 12-13.

28:46 sign and a wonder. Signs and wonders usually refer to Israel's salvation (e.g., 4:34; 7:19; 26:8). Here the term is heavily ironic.

28:48 Yoke of iron suggests a return to slavery (see also v. 68) and a reversal of Israel's redemption, when God brought them out of Egypt (e.g., 5:6). See Jer. 28:14.

28:53 eat the fruit of your womb. The siege from the future enemy will be so dire that Israelites will resort to cannibalism in order to stay alive. See 2 Kings 6:28-29 for the horrors of suffering siege, and Lam. 2:20 and 4:10 for what happened when Jerusalem was besieged by Babylon.

28:58 glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God. The name is YHWH (Yahweh), revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Ex. 3:14; see note there).

28:60 all the diseases of Egypt. See 7:15 and note on 7:13-15.

28:61 the book of this law. Similarly, v. 58. This refers to Deuteronomy 1-30. See 31:9, 24, 26.

28:62 numerous as the stars of heaven. See 1:10 and note there. This threatens a reversal or annulment of the promises to Abraham.

28:64-66 scatter. See 4:27. The curse of exile eventually comes for the northern kingdom under Assyria (2 Kings 17) and for the southern kingdom of Judah under Babylon (2 Kings 25). serve other gods of wood and stone. See Deut. 4:28. no resting place. Contrast 3:20; 12:9-10. The dread of Israel expressed by other nations in 2:25 and 11:25 is reversed.