In the fifth aliyah the Jewish people are told that on the day they enter the land of Israel, six of the tribes should stand on mount Gerizim and six on mount Eival. The elders of the Leviim and the Aron Hakodesh (holy ark) would remain in the valley between the mountains. The elders would alternately face each mountain, and, according to the Midrash, alternately state a blessing, then a curse until twelve blessings and twelve curses were stated.

After each blessing and after each curse all the Jewish people were to answer "amen". At the end of the aliyah G-d promises freedom from material worries and blessings of abundance for hearkening to His word.