Deuteronomy 27:4-14

4 "So it shall be when you cross the Jordan, you shall set up 1on Mount Ebal, these stones, as I am commanding you today, and you shall coat them with lime.
5 "Moreover, you shall build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones; you 2shall not wield an iron tool on them.
6 "You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of uncut stones, and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the LORD your God;
7 and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, and 3rejoice before the LORD your God.
8 "You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very distinctly."
9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, "Be silent and listen, O Israel! This day you have become a people for the LORD your God.
10 "You shall therefore obey * the LORD your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today."
11 Moses also charged the people on that day, saying,
12 "When you cross the Jordan, these shall stand on 4Mount Gerizim to bless the people: 5Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.
13 "For the curse, these shall stand on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
14 "The Levites shall then answer and say to all the men of Israel with a loud voice,

Deuteronomy 27:4-14 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.

Cross References 5

  • 1. Deuteronomy 11:29; Joshua 8:30
  • 2. Exodus 20:25; Joshua 8:31
  • 3. Deuteronomy 26:11
  • 4. Deuteronomy 11:29
  • 5. Joshua 8:33-35

Footnotes 5

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.