Deuteronomy 27:6-16

6 Use uncut stones to build the altar of the Lord your God and offer burnt offerings to the Lord your God on it.^[a]

7 There you are to sacrifice fellowship offerings, eat, and rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God.

8 Write clearly all the words of this law on the [plastered] stones."^[b]

The Covenant Curses

9 Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, "Be silent, Israel, and listen! This day you have become the people of the Lord your God.

10 Obey the Lord your God and follow His commands and statutes I am giving you today."

11 On that day Moses commanded the people,

12 "When you have crossed the Jordan, these [tribes] will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.

13 And these [tribes] will stand on Mount Ebal to deliver the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.^[c]

14 The Levites will proclaim in a loud voice to every Israelite:

15 'Cursed is the person who makes a carved idol or cast image, which is detestable to the Lord, the work of a craftsman, and sets [it] up in secret.'^[d] And all the people will reply, 'Amen!'

16 'Cursed is the one who dishonors his father or mother.'^[e] And all the people will say, 'Amen!'

Deuteronomy 27:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 27

In this chapter the people of Israel are ordered to write the law on plastered stones, and set them on Mount Ebal, De 27:1-4; where they are bid to erect an altar, and offer sacrifices on it, De 27:5-8; and are charged by Moses and the priests to obey the Lord, and keep his commandments, De 27:9,10; and a direction is given to each tribes which should stand and bless, and which curse, and where, De 27:11-13; and the curses which the Levites should pronounce with a loud voice, and the people should say Amen to, are recited, De 27:14-25; and the whole is concluded with a curse on all who in general do not perform the whole law, De 27:26.

Footnotes

• [a]. Ex 20:25
• [b]. Jos 8:30-32
• [c]. Dt 11:29-30; Jos 8:33-35
• [d]. Ex 34:17; Lv 19:4
• [e]. Dt 5:16; Ex 20:12