'That day Moses charged the people, saying, "When you have crossed over the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali."' (Deuteronomy 27:11-13)
Do you think it is a coincidence that:
- Those particular tribes were told to stand on those particular hills? I think it is probably because Mount Gerizim was the Southern mountain and those were the 'Southern' tribes, and vice versa for Mount Ebal. But nevertheless the mountain of blessing included the most blessed tribes as well.
- In the previous few verses we are told that the plastered stones with all the words of the law on them should be placed on Mount Ebal from which the curses were announced (vv.1-8)?
- Paul would also talk about two mountains, one that is free and the other that is of slavery to the law (Galatians 4:24-25)?
- Moses only bothers to describe the responsive curses to be declared at this event (27:14-26)?
- In Chapter 28 which seems to be summing up the blessings and curses again, the blessings get 14 verses and the curses 68?
I still remember the feeling of pennies dropping when I studied Deuteronomy a couple of years ago and realized in Deut 4 and 30-32 that exile was just very clearly taught as inevitable. Curses and Blessings are not alternative options but a journey to be taken from one to the other.
ReplyDeleteOr to put it in your favourite phrase - It's law - gospel!