Deuteronomy 27:4-14

4 When you cross the Jordan, set up these stones at Mount Ebal and coat them with plaster, as I am commanding you today.

5 “Then build an altar there to the LORD your God, using natural, uncut stones. You must not shape the stones with an iron tool.

6 Build the altar of uncut stones, and use it to offer burnt offerings to the LORD your God.

7 Also sacrifice peace offerings on it, and celebrate by feasting there before the LORD your God.

8 You must clearly write all these instructions on the stones coated with plaster.”

9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests addressed all Israel as follows: “O Israel, be quiet and listen! Today you have become the people of the LORD your God.

10 So you must obey the LORD your God by keeping all these commands and decrees that I am giving you today.”

11 That same day Moses also gave this charge to the people:

12 “When you cross the Jordan River, the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin must stand on Mount Gerizim to proclaim a blessing over the people.

13 And the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali must stand on Mount Ebal to proclaim a curse.

14 “Then the Levites will shout to all the people of Israel:

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.