D27-9: If Moses Didn’t Cross The Jordan, How Did He Lead A Covenant Renewal Ceremony Inside Canaan?

Following on the heels of my last post, the challenge we are currently facing is that the Scripture seems to be saying that Moses crossed over the Jordan River with the Israelites and is now inside the Promised Land at Mount Ebal and also led the Priests in a covenant renewal ceremony inside Canaan.

Is there an easy solution to this problem?

Actually, yes there is and I already mentioned it.

FIRST, we’re dealing with at least 2 and maybe 3 different covenant renewal ceremonies here.

SECOND, keep in mind that God prohibited Moses from entering the Promised Land.

Therefore, we can know for sure that when Moses is identified as the one speaking, it is part of the speech he delivered on the mountains of Moab just days before he passed way (after Moses died, a mere month later Israel would cross over the Jordan into the Land of Canaan).

Let’s take a look at verses 9 and 10.

Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God. Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.”-Deuteronomy 27:9-10

Again, these are Moses’ words being spoken on the mountains of Moab.

Next, take a look at verses 11, 12, and 13.

“On the same day Moses commanded the people:  When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin.  And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.”-Deuteronomy 27:11-13

Understand that in these verses, Moses telling the people what to do AFTER he is dead and gone and the Israelites have entered the land of Canaan.

So we are still on top of the mountains of Moab at this point.

However, a big shift happens next.

Take a careful look at verses 13 and 14.

^“And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.  The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice:”-Deuteronomy 27:13-14

Notice it says that ONLY the Levites will be speaking to the people.

There is zero mention of Moses joining in and speaking together with the Levites.

This seems to be at odds with verse 9 which says…“Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God”.

So what’s going on here?

Simple, what we’ve got is a change in location between verses 13 and 14.

That’s right folks.

In verse 13, the location is Moab.

It has to be in Moab because Moses is speaking and he wasn’t allowed to go inside the Promised Land.

Basic logic here folks (something a lot of folks seem to be lacking these days…especially the trinitarians with their 100% God/100% Man fiasco of a doctrine).

And from verse 14, the location has shifted to inside the borders of Canaan where we have the Levitical Priests doling out the blessings and curses.