Deuteronomy 27:7-17

7 and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, and 1rejoice 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 2Mount Gerizim to bless the people: 3Simeon, 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,
15 'Cursed is the man who makes 4an idol or a molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.' And 5all the people shall answer and say, 'Amen.'
16 '6Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
17 '7Cursed is he who moves his neighbor's boundary mark.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

Deuteronomy 27:7-17 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 7

  • 1. Deuteronomy 26:11
  • 2. Deuteronomy 11:29
  • 3. Joshua 8:33-35
  • 4. Exodus 20:4, 23; Exodus 34:17; Leviticus 19:4; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 4:16, 23; Deuteronomy 5:8; Isaiah 44:9
  • 5. 1 Corinthians 14:16
  • 6. Exodus 20:12; Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 19:3; Leviticus 20:9; Deuteronomy 5:16; Ezekiel 22:7
  • 7. Deuteronomy 19:14; Proverbs 22:28

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. I.e. stones coated with lime, cf v 4
  • [b]. Lit "listen to the voice of"
  • [c]. Or "a graven image"
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