Deut. 27 A command to set up stones for a remembrance, and to write the law upon them: they must build the altar of the Lord with whole stones, Deut. 26:1–8. To pronounce the blessing on Gerizim, and the curse on Ebal, Deut. 27:9–26.

On that day, i.e. about that time, for it was not done till some days after their passing over. Day is oft put for time, as hath been noted before. Plaister them with plaister, for conveniency of writing upon them.

All the words of this law; either, 1. All the words of this Book of Deuteronomy. But that seems too large for this place. Or, 2. The blessings and curses here following. But they are mentioned as a different thing. Or, 3. The law properly so called, i.e.

Mount Ebal; the mount of cursing. Here the law is written, to signify that a curse was due to the violators of it, and that no man could expect justification or blessing from the works of the law, by the sentence whereof all men are justly accursed, as being all guilty of the transgression of it in…

Whole stones; i.e. not hewed or polished.

So as to be easily read by all.

By thy solemn renewing of thy covenant with him.

Object. In Josh. 8:33, they stood over against Mount Gerizim. Answ. 1. Both are true; they who stood upon the one mount, stood over against the other. 2. These words may be rendered beside or near to (as the Hebrew al oft signifies) Mount Gerizim, which might be over against it.

To curse; he saith to bless the people, Deut. 27:12, but here only to curse, not expressing whom, either because he was loth to mention the people as objects of the curse; or because he presumed and hoped that though some particular persons might deserve the curse, yet the generality of the people…

The Levites, i.e. some of the Levites, to wit, the priests, which bare the ark, as it is expressed, Josh. 8:33, for the body of the Levites stood upon Mount Gerizim, Deut.

Under this particular he understands all the gross violations of the first table, as under the following branches he comprehends all other sins against the second table, as is manifest from hence, that there are other sins, not here mentioned, which are as sinful as these, and will as certainly…

Setteth light; or, despiseth in his heart; or reproacheth or curseth, to wit, secretly, as before; for if the fact was notorious, it was punished with death, Lev. 20:9.

To wit, designedly, to defraud his neighbour, or enlarge his own portion.

That misleadeth simple souls, giving them pernicious counsel, either for this life or for the next.

See Deut. 22:30.

Smiteth, i.e. killeth, as that word is oft used.

Confirmeth not, i.e. performeth not; for he that transgresseth doth in some sort destroy and make void the law of God, as to the main end for which it was given, even to the regulation of his life and actions, and as far as lies in him disannuls the authority and force of God’s law.