Ver. 12. Upon mount Gerizzim— By mount Gerizzim. To bless the people, that is, by saying Amen when they heard the blessings pronounced by the priests. See ver. 14, 15. The priests seem clearly to have stood round about the ark, placed near the altar in the valley between the two mountains; and, in pronouncing the benedictions, turned towards mount Gerizzim, where stood six of the tribes; and, in pronouncing the curses, towards mount Ebal, where stood the other six; as will appear more plainly from the following scheme of Dr. Parry's:
West
ARK
Priests. Priests. the the Levites. Levites.
South Simeon. Reuben. North
GERIZIM Levi. Gad. Judah. Asher Issachar. Zebulun.
Joseph. Dan. Benjamin. Naphtali. Strangers. Strangers. East EBAL