Deuteronomy 27

The Altar on Mount Ebal

1 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all these commands that I give you today.
2 When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster.
3 Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
4 And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster.
5 Build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them.
6 Build the altar of the LORD your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.
7 Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God.
8 And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up.”

Curses From Mount Ebal

9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your God.
10 Obey the LORD your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.”
11 On the same day Moses commanded the people:
12 When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin.
13 And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.
14 The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice:
15 “Cursed is anyone who makes an idol—a thing detestable to the LORD, the work of skilled hands—and sets it up in secret.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
16 “Cursed is anyone who dishonors their father or mother.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
17 “Cursed is anyone who moves their neighbor’s boundary stone.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
18 “Cursed is anyone who leads the blind astray on the road.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
19 “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
20 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he dishonors his father’s bed.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
21 “Cursed is anyone who has sexual relations with any animal.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
22 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
23 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
24 “Cursed is anyone who kills their neighbor secretly.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
25 “Cursed is anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
26 “Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

Cross References 36

  • 1. Psalms 78:7
  • 2. Joshua 4:1
  • 3. Exodus 24:4; Joshua 24:26; 1 Samuel 7:12
  • 4. Joshua 8:31
  • 5. S Exodus 3:8; Deuteronomy 26:9
  • 6. S Deuteronomy 11:29
  • 7. S Exodus 20:24; Joshua 8:31
  • 8. Exodus 20:25
  • 9. S Exodus 32:6
  • 10. S Deuteronomy 16:11
  • 11. Joshua 8:31
  • 12. Isaiah 8:1; Isaiah 30:8; Habakkuk 2:2
  • 13. Joshua 8:32
  • 14. S Deuteronomy 17:9
  • 15. Deuteronomy 26:18
  • 16. S Deuteronomy 11:29
  • 17. S Genesis 30:18
  • 18. Joshua 8:35
  • 19. S Deuteronomy 11:29
  • 20. S Exodus 20:4; Exodus 34:17; Leviticus 19:4; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 4:16,23; Deuteronomy 5:8; Isaiah 44:9
  • 21. 1 Kings 11:5,7; 2 Kings 23:13; Isaiah 44:19; Isaiah 66:3
  • 22. Numbers 5:22; S 1 Corinthians 14:16
  • 23. S Genesis 31:35; S Exodus 21:12; S Deuteronomy 5:16; Exodus 20:12; Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 19:3; Leviticus 20:9
  • 24. S Deuteronomy 19:14; Proverbs 22:28
  • 25. S Leviticus 19:14
  • 26. S Exodus 22:21; S Deuteronomy 24:19
  • 27. S Exodus 23:2; S Deuteronomy 10:18
  • 28. S Genesis 34:5; S Leviticus 18:7; Deuteronomy 22:30
  • 29. S Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 18:23
  • 30. S Leviticus 18:9; Leviticus 20:17
  • 31. S Leviticus 20:14
  • 32. S Genesis 4:23; Leviticus 24:17; Numbers 35:31
  • 33. Exodus 21:12
  • 34. Exodus 23:7-8; S Leviticus 19:16; Deuteronomy 10:17; Ezekiel 22:12
  • 35. S Leviticus 26:14; Deuteronomy 28:15; Psalms 119:21; Jeremiah 11:3; Galatians 3:10*
  • 36. Jeremiah 11:5

Deuteronomy 27 Commentaries

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