Deu 11 | TNotes

11:4 ^a The common translation Red Sea (literally sea of reeds) comes from the Greek Old Testament. It was called the “Sea of Reeds” because of the marshy plants that grew along its shores.
11:6 ^b Dathan and Abiram: See Num 16:1-40 ^c. In the Lord’s administration of his kingdom, he established levels of authority and command that were not to be transgressed. Because the Lord had appointed Moses and Aaron as leaders, the rebellion of Dathan and Abiram against Moses was the same as rebellion against God’s sovereign rule.
Summary for Deut 11:8-32: 11:8-32 ^d Moses here appends to the covenant stipulations (chs 5–11 ^e) a list of curses and blessings similar to those that follow the whole covenant text in chs 27–28 ^f.
11:12 ^g a land ... your God cares for: God’s care included blessing the land with all the resources his people would need to survive and prosper there.
11:24 ^h you set foot (literally you tread the sole of your foot): This idea suggests claiming a territory by placing a foot on it or walking through it (see Gen 13:17 ⁱ; Josh 1:3 ^j; 14:9 ^k).
11:26 ^l In covenant contexts, a blessing is the outcome of obedience, while a curse is the result of disobedience (see chs 27–28 ^m).
11:29 ⁿ Mount Gerizim is a prominent hill lying just west of Shechem. In later times, the Samaritans built a temple there (cp. John 4:20 ^o).

• Mount Ebal is across the valley from Mount Gerizim, to the east of Shechem.
11:30 ^p Gilgal was the site of the first camp the Israelites would make in Canaan after crossing the Jordan (Josh 4:19 ^q). It was about two miles northeast of Jericho, although its exact location is no longer certain. A line from Jericho to Shechem would pass near Gilgal.

• The oaks of Moreh were near Shechem; they were where Abram had set up his first camp in Canaan (Gen 12:6 ^r) and where Jacob had later buried Laban’s idols (Gen 35:4 ^s).