by Ptr. Art Calaguas
Shalom.
In light of the US bombing of nuclear sites in Iran and the recovery by the IDF of 3 more bodies of slain hostages from Gaza, let us continue to pray for the freedom of all the remaining 50 living and dead hostages. They have been held in captivity somewhere in Gaza for more than 624 days (or 89 weeks) as a result of the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault on Israel. Continue to pray for a just end to the wars against the Jewish nation. Continue to stand with Israel and keep on praying for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-9).
After recalling the specific stipulations of the Torah (Law/Teaching) in the previous chapters (12-26), Deuteronomy 27 – 28 contain the 3rd discourse of Moses. According to the ESV Global Study Bible, in the ancient Near East (ANE) treaty formats, what follows the stipulations are the blessings and curses that come as a result of adherence to or violation of treaty obligations. In other ANE treaties, the parties would swear mutual compliance to their god(s). These deities were invoked and involved in the treaties normally as witnesses. But in the Pentateuch’s suzerain-vassal covenant, it is the LORD as the suzerain party who is making the covenant with his chosen people. It is also the LORD who is enforcing their covenant.
Deuteronomy 27 – 28 is an exposition of the consequences of obedience/compliance or disobedience/non-compliance with the covenanted responsibilities. The blessings and curses are in general terms, but some are quite specific. The resulting punishments are no longer specified in detail as they already had been stipulated in chapters 12 – 26. As the entry into the land promised is imminent, chapters 27 – 28 serve to emphasize the connection of the entry into Canaan with obedience to the Torah, as noted by The Jewish Study Bible – Tanakh Translation.
In Deuteronomy 27, Moses and the elders charge the Israelite community with ceremonial duties once they have entered the land promised. Verse 2 at once mentions the word אֶרֶץ “erets” for the land God is giving the community in the command to build an altar of uncut stones with a coat of plaster on Mount Ebal. This word is again used in the following verse. The Hebrew verse of Deuteronomy 27:3 is given below (read right to left, top down):
וְכָתַבְתָּ֣ עֲלֵיהֶ֗ן אֶֽת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֛י הַתֹּורָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את בְּעָבְרֶ֑ךָ לְמַ֡עַן אֲשֶׁר֩ תָּבֹ֨א אֶל־הָאָ֜רֶץ אֲֽשֶׁר־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֣יךָ ׀ נֹתֵ֣ן לְךָ֗ אֶ֣רֶץ זָבַ֤ת חָלָב֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֛ר יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־אֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ לָֽךְ׃
The New English Translation (NET) Bible rendering follows:
3 Then you must inscribe on them all the words of this law when you cross over, so that you may enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, said to you.
The common word אֶרֶץ “erets” for land is used twice in this verse. The familiar descriptive phrase “a land flowing with milk and honey” for the land promised by God to their forefathers is once again mentioned.
In Deuteronomy 27:9-26, Moses further instructed the people to stand on Mount Gerizim (elevation: 881 m/2,890 ft) on the south and on Mount Ebal (elevation: 940 m/3,084 ft) on the north divided by a narrow valley where Shechem lies. These are the highest places located in the tribal allotment territory of West Manasseh (Samaria later on). Then the Levites would lead a ceremony featuring an antiphonal declaration of blessings and curses. The Israelites were to be divided into 2 groups with 6 tribes/group. One group (tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin) would stand on Mount Gerizim for the blessings and the other group (tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali) would stand on Mount Ebal for the curses. Twelve (12) curses are mentioned first in verses 15-26. All the people would signify their agreement by saying אָמֵן “amen” meaning “truth” or “truly” or “so be it.” The 12 curses were for disobedience against covenant stipulations ranging from idolatry, dishonoring parents, land-grabbing (by moving the “gebul,” boundary marker or landmark), injustice to the weak and needy in society, abominable sexual practices and bestiality, murder and bribe-taking to commit murder, and general disobedience.
Deuteronomy 28 contains several references to the land promised. Several words, majority of which have been encountered several times before, are used: עִיר “iyr” for city and שָׂדֶה “sadeh” for field or country (in verses 3, 16, 38); אֲדָמָה “adamah” for ground or land (in verses 4, 11 [2x], 18, 21, 33, 42, 51, 63); אָסָם “asam” for barn or storehouse (in verse 8); אֶרֶץ “erets” for land or earth (in verses 8, 12, 23, 24, 52[2x], 56); בּיִת “bayith” for house or habitation (in verse 30); כֶּרֶם “kerem” for vineyard (in verses 30, 39); גְּבוּל “gebul” for territory (in verse 40); and שַׁעַר “shaar” for gate/town/settlement (in verses 52[2x], 55, 57). As seen before, these words are either direct references or indirect pointers to the future of the Israelites in Canaan.
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 contain the gracious general blessings of the LORD for obedience. The blessings are then followed by another set of curses for disobedience. These cover the rest of the chapter, Deuteronomy 28:15-68. The number of curses far exceed those of blessings. The IVP Bible Background Commentary – Old Testament states that curses and blessings are standard elements of ANE treaties from the 3rd, 2nd, and 1st millennia B.C. and “vary in specificity and proportion from one period to another.” The disparity in number may perhaps be a look-back into the recent wilderness experience of disobedience of the Israelites and a look-forward to an overview of how things would turn out in the history of redemption such that God’s unique Son had to come to set things right with the LORD’s people.
The benedictions and favors found in Deuteronomy 28:1-14 connect obedience to the covenant with bounty, fertility and productivity of and in the land promised. Likewise, in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 the curses, disfavor and punishments are tied to the land as consequences of disobedience. Furthermore, the curses for covenant disloyalty include even diseases of different pathologies. According to The IVP Bible Background Commentary the ANE pathology “was always considered in the light of supernatural cause and effect.” Diseases and afflictions were even tied to particular gods in the pantheon of deities in the ancient pagan world.
The many curses also were the anti-thesis of the blessings and came in different forms. Verses 15-24 seem to cover general consequences of disobedience. Verses 25-57 speaks of defeat and suffering from enemies and includes foreign invasion and conquest of the land promised and even deportation and exile. A horrible consequence even includes cannibalism during severe starvation as a result of siege warfare! Deuteronomy 28:58-68 ends the discussion of the covenantal curses with the outlines of plague and illnesses, exile, resulting despair, death and destruction as a people. They would be separated from the land promised.
We will continue next time.
God bless us all.