First: In the valley itself some of them stood, and carried the ark of the covenant. Then: Around these [stood] the other priests and all the Levites. Thirdly: Around these stood the elders, leaders, and Judges. 4: Next, all the tribes, ascending toward the summit of the mountains. 5: The beginning of all [things] was made from the blessing, as is expressly noted (v. 34), where Joshua first read “all the words of the blessing and of the cursing,” but afterward “all [things] which were written in the volume.” But Joshua blessed the people either through himself — namely, as a Prophet — or through the priests, as was said above concerning the sacrifice (q. 17). And therefore the Talmudists err (in the tractate Sotah), saying [that] from the very [words] of the law
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[saying that from the very] recitation [of the law] this ceremony was begun. 6: Some priests — chiefly those who seemed most vocal [loud-voiced] — recited the law. 7: They turned themselves toward Gerizim and pronounced the blessings, toward Mount Ebal the cursings. And to both, the native condition of the mountains seems to have been fitted [suited]: for Gerizim [was] fertile and pleasant, and therefore toward it all the blessings of prosperity were rightly conceived [directed]; but Ebal [was] barren and unlovely — [so] it fittingly received the imprecations and detestations. Eighthly: To each [clause] the people responded with a great voice, “Amen.” For although those more remote from the valley might perhaps not sufficiently hear the priests’ voice, yet the very plan of the ceremony and the vociferation of the foremost [leaders] admonished them, and drew forth from all the notable “Amen.”