11 when all Israel is come to appear before Yahweh your God in the place which he shall choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Compare the marginal references. It is not to be supposed that the whole of the Pentateuch was read, nor does the letter of the command require that it should be so. This reading could not be primarily designed for the information and instruction of the people, since it only took place once in seven years; but was evidently a symbolic transaction, intended, as were so many others, to impress on the people the conditions on which they held possession of their privileges and blessings.
When all Israel is come to appear (e) before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
(e) Before the Ark of the covenant, which was the sign of God's presence, and the figure of Christ.
When all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God,.... As all the males were obliged to do three times in the year, and one of those times was the feast of tabernacles, and so a proper season for the reading of the law; see Exodus 23:14;
in the place which the Lord shall choose; the city of Jerusalem, and the temple there:
thou shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing; the book of Deuteronomy, as Jarchi, or it may be the whole Pentateuch: who were to read it is not expressly said; the speech seems to be directed to the priests and elders, to whom the law written by Moses was delivered, Deuteronomy 31:9; and who were either to read it themselves, or take care that it should be read. Josephus (x) ascribes this service to the high priest; he says, standing in an high pulpit (or on an high bench),"from whence he may be heard, he must read the laws to all;''but the Jewish writers commonly allot this work to the king, or supreme governor, who at least was to read some parts of it; so Jarchi says, the king at first read Deuteronomy, as it is said in the Misnah (y);"he read from the beginning of Deuteronomy to Deuteronomy 6:4; hear, O Israel, &c. and then added Deuteronomy 11:13; then Deuteronomy 14:22; after that Deuteronomy 26:12; then the section of the king, Deuteronomy 17:14; next the blessings and the curses, Deuteronomy 27:15, with which he finished the whole section;''and so we find that Joshua, the governor of the people after Moses, read all his laws, Joshua 8:35; and so did King Josiah at the finding of the book of the law, 2-Kings 23:2, and Ezra, Nehemiah 8:3. The king received the book from the high priest standing, and read it sitting; but King Agrippa stood and read, for which he was praised.
(x) Antiqu. l. 4. c. 8. sect. 12. (y) Sotah, ut supra. (c. 7. sect. 8.)
Thou shalt read - Thou shalt cause it to be read by the priest or Levites; for he could not read it himself in the hearing of all Israel, but this was to be done by several persons, and so the people met in several congregations.
*More commentary available at chapter level.