Bible Commentaries

And Moses. This is the beginning of the fifth address. See note on Deuteronomy 1:1.

this day. See note on Deuteronomy 4:26.

on the day = in the day, or, when. See App-18.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

stones: i.e. rough and unhewn. Compare Exodus 20:25.

plaister = gypsum. A hard white cement.

write. See note on Exodus 17:14. Compare Joshua 8:30-32.

this law: i.e. which follows, viz. the blessings and curses.

as = according as.

in mount Ebal. The stones, therefore, carried thither from Jordan.

Ebal = heaps.

iron. Probably a technical name for a chisel, as we now associate it with a laundry or a prison.

very plainly. A useful hint for us = plainly and well.

Take heed = keep silence, or, take note.

commandments. In Hebrew text written singular, but read plural, as here.

Simeon. For order of tribes see App-45.

speak, and say. Note idiom, usually rendered in New Testament "answer and say". The first verb is to be rendered according to the context. Here = "curse and say".

Cursed. Figure of speech Anaphora. See App-6. "Cursed" twelve times.

any graven = a sculpture. Compare Deuteronomy 4:23. Leviticus 19:4.

Amen. Note the Figure of speech Epistrophe (see App-6), each clause ending with the same word "Amen. "

setteth light. Compare Exodus 21:17. Leviticus 19:3.

removeth. Compare Deuteronomy 19:14.

the blind. Compare Leviticus 19:14.

stranger = foreigner. These three put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species) for all kinds of afflicted. Compare Deuteronomy 24:17. Exodus 22:21, Exodus 22:22. Jeremiah 22:3.

lieth. Compare Deuteronomy 22:30. Leviticus 18:8; Leviticus 20:11.

beast. Compare Exodus 22:19. Leviticus 18:23; Leviticus 20:15.

his sister. Compare Leviticus 18:9; Leviticus 20:17.

mother in law. Compare Leviticus 18:17; Leviticus 20:14.

smiteth. Compare Exodus 21:12.

reward = bribe. Compare Deuteronomy 10:17; Deuteronomy 16:19. Exodus 23:7, Exodus 23:8. Psalms 15:5.

person = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

confirmeth not. Compare Deuteronomy 28:1, Deuteronomy 28:15. Jeremiah 11:3-5. Galatians 1:3, Galatians 1:10.

all. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint, have this "all" in the text.