Ver. 7. Thou shalt offer peace-offerings— As these offerings concerned the whole people, and all were to eat of them, and rejoice before the Lord: the opinion we have advanced of the altar's being placed in the midst of the plain gains great confirmation from hence; it being extremely improbable that they should all ascend the mount of cursing, or any other mount for that purpose.
REFLECTIONS.—The law being delivered, care is here taken to have the record preserved and attended to; for which purpose, 1. Moses, with the priests and princes of the people, that their numbers and dignity might give weight to the admonition, solemnly charges the people to be obedient. They were now in a distinguished manner declared to be the people of God, and therefore must approve themselves as became such a relation. Note; (1.) All, who have weight and influence over others, should join in promoting the work of religion among them. (2.) The honour and blessing of God's service is a strong obligation to serve him. (3.) When ministers and magistrates show themselves zealous in their station for God, it is much to be hoped that the people will hear and follow such good examples. 2. That none may plead ignorance, a copy of the law is ordered to be written on large stones plaistered over. Note; The word of God is so plain, that wilful ignorance of it is wilful sin. The altar must be built of stones unhewn and plain; for God's service requires no ornaments: he demands not the glided altar, but the holy heart. Burnt-offerings and peace-offerings were sacrificed to intimate how necessary it was to have the remedy of atoning blood near to save from the condemnation of a holy law; and they are commanded to eat and rejoice before the Lord: for they who, through the sacrifice of Jesus, are reconciled to God, delivered from the curse of the law, and admitted into a covenant of grace, have need to rejoice in the Lord, and glory in the God of their salvation. All these institutions are typical of our divine Redeemer. On him are our curses laid: he is at once our altar and sacrifice; and whosoever eats his flesh, and drinks his blood, cannot but rejoice before the Lord with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.