SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:29
Y será que, cuando el SEŃOR tu Dios te introdujere en la tierra a la cual vas para heredarla, pondrás la bendición sobre el monte Gerizim, y la maldición sobre el monte Ebal;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 11:29
Verse 29. Thou shalt put the blessing upon Mount Gerizim, and the curse upon Mount Ebal.] The etymology of these names may be supposed to cast some light on this institution. µyzrg gerizzim, from zrg garaz, to cut, cut off, cut down; hence µyzrg gerizzim, the cutters down, fellers, and reapers or harvest-men, this mountain being supposed to have its name from its great fertility, or the abundance of the crops it yielded, which is a possible case. Of lby[ ebal or eybal the root is not found in Hebrew; but in Arabic abala signifies rough, rugged, curled, &c.; and abalo, from the same root, signifies white stones, and a mountain in which such stones are found; alabalo, the mount of white stones. See Giggeius and Golius. And as it is supposed that the mountain had this name because of its barrenness, on this metaphorical interpretation the sense of the passage would appear to be the following: God will so superintend the land, and have it continually under the eye of his watchful providence, that no change can happen in it but according to his Divine counsel, so that its fertility shall ever be the consequence of the faithful obedience of its inhabitants, and a proof of the blessing of God upon it; on the contrary, its barrenness shall be a proof that the people have departed from their God, and that his curse has in consequence fallen upon the land. See the manner of placing these blessings and curses, chap. xxvii. 12, &c. That Gerizim is very fruitful, and that Ebal is very barren, is the united testimony of all who have traveled in those parts. See Ludolf, Reland, Rab, Benjamin, and Mr. Maundrell. Sychem lies in the valley between these two mountains.
THAT the land of Judea was naturally very fertile, can scarcely be supposed by any who considers the accounts given of it by travelers; with the exception of a few districts, the whole land is dry, stony, and barren, and particularly all the southern parts of Judea, and all the environs of Jerusalem, most of which are represented as absolutely incapable of cultivation. How then could it ever support its vast number of inhabitants? By the especial providence of God. While God kept that people under his continual protection, their land was a paradise; they lent to all nations and borrowed from none. What has it been since? A demi-solitude, because that especial blessing no longer descends upon it. No land, says Calmet, was more fertile while under the benediction of God; none more barren when under his curse. Its present state is a proof of the declaration of Moses, chap. xxviii. 23: "The heaven over their head is brass; the earth under their feet, iron." The land itself, in its present state is an ample proof of the authenticity of the Pentateuch. Should facts of this kind be lost sight of by any who read the sacred writings?
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 29. And it shall come to pass, when the Lord thy God hath bought thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it , etc.] Which is often observed, as being near at hand; and when and where many things were to be done, which could not be done in the place and circumstances they now were, particularly what follows: that thou shall put the blessing on Mount Gerizim, and the curse upon Mount Ebal ; that is, pronounce the one on one mountain, and the other on the other mountain, or at least towards them, or over against them. The Targum of Jonathan is “ye shall set six tribes on Mount Gerizim, and six tribes on Mount Ebal; (( Deuteronomy 27:12,13)) blessing they shall turn their faces against Mount Gerizim, and cursing they shall turn their faces against Mount Ebal;” with which agrees the account given in the Misnah; “six tribes went to the top of Mount Gerizim, and six to the top of Mount Ebal; and the priests and the Levites, and the ark, stood below in the middle; the priests surrounded the ark, and the Levites the priests, and all Israel were on this and on that side of the ark, as in ( Joshua 8:33) then they turned their faces against Gerizim, they opened with the blessing, blessed is he that maketh not any graven or molten image, and both answered “Amen”; then they turned their faces against Mount Ebal, and opened with the curse, ( Deuteronomy 27:15) and both answered Amen f109 ;” see the performance of this command in ( Joshua 8:33,34).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 26-32 - Moses sums up all the arguments for obedience in two words, the blessing and the curse. He charged the people to choose which the would have. Moses then appointed a public and solemn proclamation of the blessing and curse, to be made upon the two mountains of Gerizi and Ebal. We have broken the law, and are under its curse, withou remedy from ourselves. In mercy, the gospel again sets before us blessing and a curse. A blessing, if we obey the call to repentance, to faith in Christ, and newness of heart and life through him; an awfu curse, if we neglect so great salvation. Let us thankfully welcom these glad tidings of great joy; and let us not harden our hearts, but hear this voice of God while it is called to-day, and while he invite us to come to him upon a mercy-seat. Let us be diligent to make ou calling and election sure __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
והיה 1961 כי 3588 יביאך 935 יהוה 3068 אלהיך 430 אל 413 הארץ 776 אשׁר 834 אתה 859 בא 935 שׁמה 8033 לרשׁתה 3423 ונתתה 5414 את 853 הברכה 1293 על 5921 הר 2022 גרזים 1630 ואת 853 הקללה 7045 על 5921 הר 2022 עיבל׃ 5858
