n L11w-nbiding people. In connection with this <lisplay of thn Law, there was to be an altar erected, on which burnt offerings and peace offerings were to be presented, an,1 the people wero to realize, ns they had never before done, that they have "become the pe<Jplc of the ,Lord their God." The following ideas are, among others, sug~ested :- 1. 'lHE LORD B PEOPLE WILL GREATLY HONOUR ms LAW. All disrespect shown to the Divine Law argues superfici[llity both in thought and in feeling. Even suppose it were not most practical and just and good, it ought to be held in high honour as proceeding from the Lord. How much more when it is so wise and so thorough in deRling with human and national life I The great business, therefore, of getting the Law written on the rocks of Mount Ebal must have impressed its sacredness upon the people, and have constituted a standing witness of their undertaking to obey it. It was the acceptance antl the publication of Divine Law as that by which, as a nation, they would abide. II. THE DURNT OFFERINGS INDICATED THEIR PERSOl'IAL CONSECRATION TO Goo. A reference to this sacrifice 1 will show that the idea emphasized in the burnt offerin'.s is consecration. The fire is emblematic of the sublimating influence of the Holy Spiri 1, by which the whole being, the entire personrility, is lifted heavenward. When, then, the Israelites gathered round the altar between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, antl had plentiful burnt offerings presented by their priests, it was surely dedicating their persons unto God, vowing to be a holy people unto him. Just as the burnt offering comes first in Leviticus to indicate the consecrated attitude of a people redeemed from Egyptian bondage, so it comes first on their entrance into the land of promise. It was Israel asserting that they were not their own, but "bought with a price," and therefore bound to glorify God with their bodies, and their spirits, which are God's ( l Cor. vi. 20). III. THE PEACE OFFERU.GS INDICATED FELLOWSHIP BEFORE Goo. After the burnt offerings came the peace offerings, part of which was laid on the altar, part appro- priated by the priests, ~ad the remainder the portion of the ptople. It was a feast of fellowship between God and his people. Jt was the sacrament of the land of promi~c. It indicated peace and unity between God and man. What a precious and interesting service it must have been I The most magnificent copgregation the world ever saw, and the most impressive service! Communion is based upon unity of mind and of will on the part of the covenant-keeping God and hls Law-abiding people.-R. M. E.
Vers. 11-26.-Responses. After the writing of the Law, and the sacrifices, there was to be a great congregation, and half of the people were to assemble on Mount Gerizim to bless, viz. Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin; .while the other half were to assemble on Mount Ebal to curse, viz. Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. Now, we know from Numbers that the order of march was this: Judah, Issachar, Zehulun, Gershon and Merari with the tabernacle, Reuben, Simeon, Gad, Kohath with the sanctuary, Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, Dan, Asher, and Naphtali. The order for the arrangement, therefore, was that the van, consisting of Judah and Issacbar, marched to Gerizim; then Zebulun, the next tribe, marched to Ebal; then the Gershonites and Merarites marched to Gerizim; then Reuben to Ebal; Simeon to Gerizim; Gad to Ebal; the Kohathites to Gerizim; followed by Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, who were the followers of the ark; and lastly the rearguard, Dan, Asher, and Naphtali, to Ebal. No commander-in-chief ever disposed of his men more impartially than did Moses in this address beyond the Jordan. Now, we have one or two remarks arising out of this arrangement. J. 'l'HE TRIDE OF LEVI, WITH ALL THE APPOL'<TMENTS FOR SACRIFICE, PASSED TO GERIZIM TO BLESS. In the march Levi was divided into two parts-the Gershonites and Merarites goina-0 fourth with the tabernacle furniture, while the Kohathites went eighth with the ark and sanctuary. But they unite at Mount Gerizim. Nothing could more clearly indicate the mercy and blessing embodied in the whole ceremonial law which the Levites represented. The Law in its judicial aspect might have its penalties antl judgments, but it had Hs ceremonies of mercy to counterbalance these. II. THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION STOOD ON MOUNT GERIZIM. 'wVhen we consider 1 • Pulpit Commontary,' on Lev. i., Homily by the present writer THE BOOK OF DEUTERoNOMY. [olt. xxvn.t. 1-61',
the tribes that defiled upon the mount of blessing, we eee that they absorb the heroio in Israel. Reuben, Gad, Asher, Dan, Zebulun, and Naphtali were nobodies, so far ns national heroism is concerned; whereas the other tribes became famous in the history of Palestine. It is surely significant that the weight of the nation is assigned to the mount of blessing. Ill. 'l'HE PEOPLE HAD TO SAY "AMEN" TO THE OURSES AS WELL AB TO THE DLEBSU:UB PRONOUNCED IK THE Nnrn OF Goo. Some are ready with their responses to the blessings; they cannot get too much of them. But they demur to any curses issuing from God. They think they are unworthy of him. It so happens, however, that, in the great congregation between the mountains, the curses of Ebal had precedence of the blessings or Gerizim. The emphasis chronologically was given to the curses. And our consciences must acknowledge that the Law of God must carry out its penalties punctually, or it will forfeit all respect. IV. A REVIEW OF THE CURSES HERE UTTERED SHOWS THAT THEY ALL REST UPON llIGllT. No one dare take up one of these curses and suggest its omission or alteration. It is absolute morality which assigns a malediclion to such crimes as these. They have the hearty "Amen" of every unbiassed conscience.-R. M. E.
EXPOSITION.