Deuteronomy 27:5-15

5 Build an altar of stones there to the Lord your God, but don't use any iron tool to cut the stones;

6 build the altar of the Lord your God with stones from the field. Offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God,

7 and offer fellowship offerings there, and eat them and rejoice before the Lord your God.

8 Then write clearly all the words of these teachings on the stones."

9 Then Moses and the Levites who were priests spoke to all Israel and said, "Be quiet, Israel. Listen! Today you have become the people of the Lord your God.

10 Obey the Lord your God, and keep his commands and laws that I give you today."

11 That day Moses also gave the people this command:

12 When you cross the Jordan River, these tribes must stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin.

13 And these tribes must stand on Mount Ebal to announce the curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

14 The Levites will say to all the people of Israel in a loud voice:

15 "Anyone will be cursed who makes an idol or statue and secretly sets it up, because the Lord hates the idols people make." Then all the people will say, "Amen!"

Deuteronomy 27:5-15 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.