Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 27

Verse 1

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

this day. See note on Deuteronomy 4:26 .

Verse 2

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.

Verse 3

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.

Verse 4

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

Ebal = heaps.

Verse 5

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

Verse 8

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

Verse 9

Take heed = keep silence, or, take note.

Verse 10

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

Verse 12

Simeon. For order of tribes see App-45 .

Verse 14

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".

Verse 15

Cursed. Figure of speech An aphor a . 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. "

Verse 16

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

Verse 17

removeth. Compare Deuteronomy 19:14 .

Verse 18

the blind. Compare Leviticus 19:14 .

Verse 19

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 .

Verse 20

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

Verse 21

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

Verse 22

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

Verse 23

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

Verse 24

smiteth. Compare Exodus 21:12 .

Verse 25

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

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

Verse 26

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.