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From Eternity Past
on tables of stone, but the law communicated to Moses and written
in a book. Beside this monument was built an altar of unhewn stone
upon which sacrifices were offered unto the Lord. Because of their
transgressions of God’s law, Israel had justly incurred His wrath, and
it would be at once visited but for the atonement of Christ, represented
by the altar of sacrifice.
Six tribes were stationed upon Mount Gerizim, the others on Ebal,
the priests with the ark occupying the valley between. In the presence
of this vast assembly, Joshua read the blessings that follow obedience
to God’s law. All the tribes on Gerizim responded, “Amen.” He then
read the curses, and the tribes on Ebal in like manner gave their assent,
thousands upon thousands of voices uniting in the solemn response.
Following this came the reading of the law of God, together with the
statutes and judgments delivered by Moses.
Israel had received the law from the mouth of God at Sinai, and its
sacred precepts, written by His own hand, were preserved in the ark.
Now it had been written again, where all could read for themselves the
conditions of the covenant under which they were to hold possession
of Canaan. It had not been many weeks since Moses gave the whole
book of Deuteronomy in discourses to the people, yet now Joshua read
the law again.
Not alone the men of Israel, but “all the women and the little ones”
listened to the reading of the law, for it was important that they also
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should know and do their duty. Moses commanded: “At the end of
every seven years, ... when all Israel is come to appear before the Lord
thy God in the place which He shall choose, thou shalt read this law
before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men, and
women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that
they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God,
and observe to do all the words of this law: and that their children,
which have not known anything, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord
your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to
possess it.”
Deuteronomy 31:10-13
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Why We Must Diligently Study God’s Word
Satan is ever at work endeavoring to pervert what God has spoken,
to darken the understanding and lead men into sin. God is constantly