Albert Barnes Commentary Deuteronomy 27:11-26

"And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are passed over the Jordan: Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin. And these shall stand upon mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. And the Levites shall answer, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, Cursed be the man that maketh a graven or molten image, an abomination unto Jehovah, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and setteth it up in secret. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that removeth his neighbor`s landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that wresteth the justice [due] to the sojourner, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that lieth with his father`s wife, because he hath uncovered his father`s skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen. 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. Cursed be he that lieth with his mother-in-law. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbor in secret. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that taketh a bribe to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that confirmeth not the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen." — Deuteronomy 27:11-26 (ASV)

. The solemnity was apparently designed only for the single occasion on which it actually took place.

(Deuteronomy 27:12, Deuteronomy 27:13)

The tribes appointed to stand on Gerizim to bless the people all sprang from the two wives of Jacob, Leah and Rachel. All the four tribes which sprang from the handmaids Zilpah and Bilhah are located on Ebal. But in order, as it would seem, to achieve an equal division, two tribes are added to the latter from the descendants of the wives: that of Reuben, probably because he forfeited his primogeniture (Genesis 49:4); and of Zebulun, apparently because he was the youngest son of Leah.

The transaction presents itself as a solemn renewal of the covenant made by God with Abraham and Isaac, but particularly with Jacob and his family. Accordingly, the genealogical basis of the “twelve patriarchs” (Revelation 7:4 and following), the sons of Jacob, is here assumed.

The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh are merged in the name of Joseph, their father; and Levi regains on this occasion his place alongside the others. “The Levites” of Deuteronomy 27:14 are no doubt “the priests the Levites” (Joshua 8:33), in whom the ministerial character of the tribe was most particularly manifested. It is noteworthy that the group of tribes which stood on Gerizim far exceeded the other in numbers and in importance, thus perhaps indicating that even by the Law the blessing should eventually prevail.

(Deuteronomy 27:15)

The “Amen” attested to the conviction of the speakers that the sentences to which they responded were true, just, and certain; this is also seen in Numbers 5:22, and in our own Commination Office, which is modelled after this ordinance of Moses.

(Deuteronomy 27:15–26)

Twelve curses against transgressions of the covenant. The first eleven are directed against special sins which are selected by way of example; the last comprehensively sums up in general terms and condemns all and every offence against God’s Law. Compare the marginal references.