Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal which faces it, should always be held in Israel's memory, for upon these mountains all Israel assembled— men, women, and children—when the first conquests in Canaan were completed. Hither they came in obedience to Jehovah's word, given to the nation by Moses when they were yet in the wilderness; to give their solemn assent to the law of their God. The words of the law and the commands of God were written upon stones, covered with plaster—these were set up on Mount Ebal—and the special bidding of the Lord was, “Thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly." (Deut. 27:88And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly. (Deuteronomy 27:8).) Thus, directly Israel was established in the land of promise, their first duty was to write out the words of the divine law, so that everyone could read them. Their tenure in that land was governed by their obedience to God's word, their every blessing depended upon their allegiance to it, and it was necessary that every one of the people should know for himself the exact words of his God.
To these mountains the people gathered in solemn assembly, and the words of the law were spoken by the Levites, so that all could hear them, and to these words the people by their Amens set their seal. God ordained that the words should be spoken with a loud voice by the Levites.
“Very plainly" were the words written; "with a loud voice" were they spoken-an important lesson to us in our day on the intense value God attaches to the knowledge of His word by the people of His choice. If the ministry of His word was specially committed into the hands of the Levites, they were responsible that everyone in Israel should know for himself what that word was. Further, the word spoken by the Levites was that which was written on the stones—the spoken word was the same as the written word.
From the earliest, God has given all honor to His word, and such as honor Him honor His word. It is impossible to be a faithful servant of God if His word is made little of, or treated slightingly in any way.
The cursing and the blessing to which Israel gave their solemn acquiescence on Ebal and Gerizim have been remarkably fulfilled in their history. The nation is scattered and peeled, it is cast out over all countries of the world, and is a witness in our day of disbelief in the truth of God's word that what He has said shall surely come to pass.