Deuteronomy 27:11-13

Appointment of Tribes to Bless and to Curse

Ch. Deuteronomy 11:29 (q.v.) commands that the blessing for obedience be set on Mt Gerizim, the curse for disobedience on Mt -Ebal. Set(lit. give) implies some solemn rite, and this is now defined. Six tribes shall stand on Gerizim to bless, and six on -Ebal for the curse. The former are all sons of Leah or Rachel, Jacob's wives, the latter the sons of their maids, Gad, Asher, Dan and Naphtali, with Reuben, Leah's eldest son, who lost his birthright, and Zebulun, her youngest. Again the former, appointed to the southern mount, are all (with the doubtful exception of Issachar) tribes established S. of Esdraelon; while those appointed to the northern mountain are the four tribes settled N. of Esdraelon, with the two from E. Palestine, Reuben and Gad.

On the whole, the genealogical explanation of the division (Dillm., Dri., Berth.) is more plausible than the geographical (Steuern.). The position of Levi, on a level with the other tribes, points to a source earlier than D, and as E emphasises the sanctity of Shechem, the fragment has been assigned to E (Berth., Marti). Note also the phrase, Moses charged the people, not elsewhere in D, while E most frequently uses the term the peopleto designate Israel (e.g. Exodus 3:12; Exodus 3:21; Exodus 4:21; Exodus 5:4; Exodus 11:2 f, Exodus 12:36; Exodus 13:17 f., Exodus 15:24; Exodus 17:1 b, Exodus 17:2; Exodus 17:4-6; Exodus 19:10; Exodus 19:14-17; Exodus 24:3; Numbers 11:1 f.).