- in mount Ebal:
- Moses himself had twice given express orders for this solemnity; once "And it shall come to pass,¹ when¹ the LORDª thy Godª hath brought thee inª° unto¹ the landª whither¹¹ thou¹ goestª° to possessª° it, that thou shalt putª°¹ the blessingª upon¹ mountª Gerizim,ª and the curseª upon¹ mountª Ebal.ª ... [Are] they¹ not¹ on the other sideª Jordan,ª byª the wayª where the sunª goeth down,ª in the landª of the Canaanites,ª which dwellª° in the champaignª over againstª Gilgal,ª besideª the plainsª of Moreh?ª" {Deu 11:29-30}, in which he pointed out the very place where it was to be performed; and again, at the "And Mosesª with the eldersª of Israelª commandedª°¹ the people,ª saying,ª° Keepª°¹ all¹ the commandmentsª which¹ I¹ commandª° you this day.ª" {Deu 27:1}, there is a renewal of the instructions to Joshua, with special reference to minute particulars. It was a federal transaction. The covenant was now renewed between God and Israel upon their taking possession of the land of promise, that they might be encouraged in the conquest of it, and might know upon what terms they held it, and come under fresh obligations to obedience. "And all¹ Israel,ª and their elders,ª and officers,ª° and their judges,ª° stoodª° on this side¹¹ the arkª and on that side¹¹ before¹ the priestsª the Levites,ª which bareª° the arkª of the covenantª of the LORD,ª as well the stranger,ª as he that was born² among them;¹ halfª of them overª againstª mountª Gerizim,ª and halfª of them over¹ againstª mountª Ebal;ª as¹ Mosesª the servantª of the LORDª had commandedª° before,ª that they should blessª°¹ the peopleª of Israel.ª" {Jsh 8:33}
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