V.11-13 Moses appoints two groups to stand on these separate mountains which were just inside the promised land. On Gerizim, to bless the people (for obeying) — on Ebal, to pronounce the curses if they disobeyed the law. Can you find the blessings? Not one word.
V.14-26 Twelve curses. Notice what all the people were to say after each curse was spoken! “Amen” means “I agree.” We have to turn to Galatians 3:10 to get the answer to our “why?” Paul even quotes from this very chapter. There can be no blessing from the law, even though God had kept His promise and brought them into this glorious land (Read Psa. 106:21-24).
To summarize our whole chapter: vvs. 1-10 present to us the heart of a gracious God, and the thoughts of God toward His beloved people. Yet vvs. 11-26 show us the actual condition of these people — they were on the ground of law — their blessings would depend on their obedience! So the sad result of Israel’s real state before God. BUT because of God’s grace and love, He has sent a Savior, Who has taken the curse for us and brought us into the position of total blessing. (Read Rom. 6:15).