Deuteronomy 27:12

“These shall stand upon Mount Gerizim to bless the people, widen ye are come over Jordan, etc.] Which was a mountain in Samaria opposite to Mount Ebal, a valley of a furlong broad lay between them f488; and, according to Hillerus f489, had its name from being broken off from that, they being, as it should seem, originally one mountain, and now two tops of the same; so Burchard; but others think it signifies the mountain of the mowers or cutters down f490; that is, of grass or corn, being a very fruitful one; and Benjamin of Tudela says f491, that in his time, on Mount Gerizim were fountains and orchards; and being such a fertile mountain, it was very proper to bless upon. Mr. Maundrel f492, a…”

“Compare Joshua 8:32-35. The solemnity was apparently designed only for the single occasion on which it actually took place. Deuteronomy 27:12, Deuteronomy 27:13 The tribes appointed to stand on Gerizim to bless the people all sprang from the two wives of Jacob, Leah and Rachel. All the four tribes which sprang from the handmaids Zilpah and Bilhah are located on Ebal. But in order, as it would seem, to effect an equal division, two tribes are added to the latter from the descendants of the wives, that of Reuben, probably because he forfeited his primogeniture Genesis 49:4; and of Zebulun, apparently because he was the youngest son of Leah. The transaction presents itself as a solemn renewal…”

“Upon mount Gerizzim - These words may be rendered beside or near to mount Gerizzim. There were in Canaan two mountains that lay near together, with a valley between, one called Gerizzim, the other Ebal. On the sides of these which faced each other, all the tribes were to be drawn up, six on a side, so that in the valley they came near each other, so near that the priests standing between them, might be heard by them that were next them on both sides. Then one of the priests, or perhaps more, at some distance from each other, pronounced with a loud voice, one of the curses following. And all the people who stood on the foot and side of mount Ebal, (those farther off taking the signal from…”

“27:12-26 Mount Gerizim lies just west of Mount Ebal (27:4), and Shechem lies in the valley between (see 11:29; Josh 8:30-35). • proclaim a blessing: The tribes or their representatives were carefully placed so that as the Levites (Deut 27:14) read the covenant from the valley below, the other tribes antiphonally proclaimed their adherence to its terms by shouting Amen, a Hebrew term that means “May it be so.””

“upon mount Gerizim: Mount Gerizim and mount Ebal being only separated by a narrow valley, not above a furlong broad, what was spoken with a loud voice on the one might be heard on the other (see note on Jdg 9:7). It is probable, however, that the particle âl should be rendered by, as it frequently signifies; for when this direction was reduced to practice ( Jos 8:33), it seems that the people did not stand on the mountains, but over against them in the plain. But the Talmud says, that six tribes went up on each, while the priest and Levites and the ark remained beneath. Deu 11:26-29; Jos 8:33, Jos 8:34; Jdg 9:7 Simeon: Gen 29:33-35, Gen 30:18, Gen 30:24, Gen 35:18 Deuteronomy 27:13”