(Mishnah): Six tribes ascended to the top of Har Gerizim, and six ascended to the top of Har Eival. The Kohanim, Leviyim, and the Aron stood below [in the valley] in the middle.

Note: Also the Bavli (32a) says 'to the top of.' The Me'iri and Radak (Yehoshua 8:33) say that the Shevatim were on the slope, but not on the top, for it says "Mul". Why do both Talmudim say "the top"? Why can't we explain that the Shevatim were on top, and "Mul" refers to converts? The verse says "ka'Ger ka'Ezrach Chetzyo El Mul..." I.e. just like half of Yisrael were on Har Gerizim and half on Har Eival, the converts below, half faced Har Gerizim and half faced Har Eival. This requires investigation. (PF)

The Kohanim surrounded the Aron, the Leviyim surrounded the Kohanim, and the rest of Yisrael were on both sides - "v'Chol Yisrael u'Zkenav v'Shotrim v'Shoftav Omdim mi'Zeh umi'Zeh la'Aron..."

[The Leviyim] turned their faces towards Har Gerizim and started with a Berachah, 'Baruch ha'Ish Asher Lo Ya'aseh Fesel u'Masechah To'avas Hash-m Ma'ase Yedei Charash v'Sam ba'Seser', and these and these (Yisre'elim on both sides) answered 'Amen';

[The Leviyim] turned their faces towards Har Eival and started with the curse, "Arur ha'Ish Asher Ya'aseh Fesel u'Masechah To'avas Hash-m..." and these and these answered 'Amen.' They did so until they finished [all] the Berachos and curses.

(Gemara - Beraisa - Rebbi) Question: We cannot say that Levi was above, for it already says [in Sefer Yehoshua] that Levi was below! We cannot say that Levi was below, for it already says [in the Torah] that Levi was above!

Answer: The Zekenim of Kehunah and Leviyah were below, and the rest of the Shevet was above.

(R. Shimon) Question: We cannot say that Levi was above, for it already says [in Sefer Yehoshua] that Levi was below! We cannot say that Levi was below, for it already says [in the Torah] that Levi was above!

Answer: Those proper to serve (between 30 and 50 years old) were below, and the rest of the Shevet was above.

R. Shimon says, "Shimon v'Levi" (equates them) - just like Shimon was totally above (there is no source to say that part was below), also Levi was totally above. (This Beraisa disagrees about R. Shimon's opinion.)

Question: How does this Tana fulfill [the verse that says that Levi was below]?

Answer: It refers to the Kohanim, who are Leviyim;

This is like R. Yehoshua ben Levi taught, that in 24 places the Kohanim are called Leviyim, and this is one of them "veha'Kohanim ha'Leviyim Bnei Tzadok."

Suggestion: Perhaps these on Har Gerizim said the Berachos, and these on Har Eival said the curses!

Rejection: "]U'Va'u Alecha Kol] ha'Berachos [ha'Eleh]" - [the Leviyim] said Brachos and curses about these and these (the Shevatim on both mountains).

Suggestion: Perhaps after saying [all] the Berachos, they said the curses!

Rejection: "Ha'Berachah veha'Klalah" - one Berachah and one curse.

Suggestion: Perhaps these on Har Gerizim answered Amen to the Berachos, and these on Har Eival answered Amen to the curses!

Rejection: "V'Anu Kol ha'Am v'Amru Amen" - these and these answered Amen to the Brachos and to the curses;

How is this? When they said Brachos, [the Leviyim] turned their faces towards Har Gerizim. When they said curses, they turned their faces towards Har Eival.

There is a general Brachah (Baruch Asher Yakim Es Divrei ha'Torah ha'Zos...) and a particular Brachah (the first 10 - one who will not make a Pesel...). There is a general curse ("Arur Asher Lo Yakim Es Divrei ha'Torah ha'Zos..." and a particular curse (the first 10).

On each matter there were 16 Brisos (covenants) - to learn, to teach, to guard (refrain from forbidden actions) and do (and for all four of these, there was a general Brachah, a particular Brachah, a general curse and a particular curse, and similarly at Har Sinai and in Arvos Mo'av (the last encampment of Bnei Yisrael in the Midbar; Sefer Devarim was said there).

R. Shimon excludes Har Gerizim and Har Eival [from the places of Brisos, for the entire Torah was not repeated there], and put in place of it Ohel Mo'ed (Hash-m taught Moshe there in the Midbar).

And so R. Shimon used to say - there is no matter in the Torah about which there are not 576 Brisos - 12 of Brachah (each Brachah was said for each Shevet - KEHILAS YAKOV Bavli 37b), 12 of curse, 12 in general, and 12 in particular - this is 48 Brisos;

To learn, to teach, to guard and do - this is 192 Brisos; and similarly at Har Sinai and in Arvos Mo'av - this is 576 Brisos.

(R. Shimon ben Yehudah, Ish Kefar Amum, citing R. Shimon): [For each matter,] there were 603,550 Brisos [of Arvus, i.e. mutual responsibility for every Yisrael].

Rebbi says, according to R. Shimon ben Yehudah Ish Kefar Amum, citing R. Shimon, there is no matter in the Torah about which there are not 48 times 603,550 Brisos.

Note: R. Shimon holds that the 12 Brisos for each matter due to Arvus for each Shevet. R. Shimon ben Yehudah holds that there were 603,550 for each, due to Arvus for every Yisrael. (MI'YMINI MICHA'EL Bavli 37b).

Question: (Rebbi said, according to R. Shimon ben Yehudah... every Torah matter has 48 times 603,550 Brisos; the calculation of 48 included Arvos Mo'av.) We know [that there was Arvus there] only for the matters that were in the Klal (Divrei ha'Torah ha'Zos) and detailed (the first 10 curses). Matters that were in the Klal and not detailed [what is the source for them]?

Answer: Did not R. Yochanan say citing R. Shimon, anything that was in a Klal, and left the Klal to teach, it does not leave to teach about itself, rather, to teach about the entire Klal?! (What was detailed teaches about all other Mitzvos.)

Question: Was this not for one matter - perhaps it was for two matters?! (Shnei Kesuvim ha'Ba'im k'Echad do not teach to elsewhere.) And here we discuss two (actually, 10) matters [that were detailed]!

Answer (R. Tanchuma): Since the Klal ("Arur Asher Lo Yakim Es Divrei ha'Torah ha'Zos") is written at the end, it is as if it is all one matter.

Question: It says "Arur Asher Lo Yakim Es Divrei ha'Torah ha'Zos" - does Torah fall (that someone must lift it)?!

Answer #1 (Shimon ben Yakim): This refers to the Chazan who stands [and lifts the Sefer Torah for people to see. Maharsha (37b) - the one who reads from the Torah must stand. MINCHAH CHAREVAH (37b) - even though Kri'as ha'Torah is mid'Rabanan, it was already enacted in Moshe's time - Bava Kama 82a].

Answer #2 (R. Shimon ben Chalifta): This refers to the lower (earthly) Beis Din (the king, Nasi and judges must ensure that people fulfill Torah);

(R. Chunah citing Rav Yehudah citing Shmuel): Due to [hearing] this, Yoshiyah tore [his clothing] and said 'it is Alai (incumbent on me) to be Mekim (ensure that people fulfill Torah).

(R. Acha citing R. Tanchum b'Ribi Chiyah): If one learned, taught, guarded and did, and he could have strengthened [others to learn], and he did not strengthen, he is [included] in this curse.

(R. Yirmeyah citing R. Chiya bar Ba): If one did not learn, teach, guard or do, and he did not have means to strengthen, and he strengthened [through extraordinary efforts], he is [included] in this Brachah.