Deuteronomy 27:1-10

Ceremonies

1 Then Moses and the elders of Israel charged the people, {saying}, "Keep all of the commandment that I [am] commanding you {today}.

2 And then on the day that you cross the Jordan to the land that Yahweh your God [is] giving to you, then you shall set up {for yourselves} large stones, and you shall paint them with lime,

3 and you shall write on them all the words of this law at your crossing, so that you may come into the land that Yahweh your God [is] giving to you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, {promised} to you.

4 And {when you cross the Jordan}, you shall set up these stones that I [am] commanding you [about] {today} on Mount Ebal, and you shall paint them with lime.

5 And you shall build an altar there for Yahweh your God, an altar of stone, but {you shall not use an iron tool to shape the stones}.

6 You must build the altar of your God [with] unhewn stones, and you shall sacrifice on it burnt offerings to Yahweh your God.

7 And you shall sacrifice fellowship offerings, and you shall eat [them] there, and you shall rejoice {before} Yahweh your God.

8 You shall write on the stone all of the words of this law very clearly."

9 Then Moses and the priests, the Levites, spoke to all Israel, saying, "Be silent and hear, Israel, [for] this day you have become {a people} for Yahweh your God.

10 And listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, and observe his commandments and his rules that I [am] commanding you {today}."

Deuteronomy 27:1-10 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]. Literally "to say"
• [b]. Literally "the day"
• [c]. Literally "for you"
• [d]. Or "coat/cover them"
• [e]. Or "fathers"
• [f]. Literally "spoke"
• [g]. Literally "at/in your crossing the Jordan"
• [h]. Literally "the day"
• [i]. Or "coat/cover"
• [j]. Or "and"
• [k]. Literally "and you shall not wave to and fro over them an iron tool"
• [l]. Literally "to the face of"
• [m]. Literally "to say"
• [n]. Literally "for a people"
• [o]. Literally "the day"