Deuteronomy 27:1-10

Stones of the Instruction

1 Then Moses and Israel's elders commanded the people: Keep all of the commandment that I am giving you right now.

2 The same day you cross the Jordan River to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up large stones and cover them with plaster.

3 Once you have crossed over, write on the stones all the words of this Instruction because you will have entered the land the LORD your God is giving to you—a land full of milk and honey—exactly as the LORD, your ancestors' God, promised you.

4 Once you have crossed over the Jordan River, set up these stones that I'm telling you about right now on Mount Ebal. Cover them with plaster

5 and build an altar there for the LORD your God—an altar of stones that haven't been cut with iron tools.

6 (You must build the LORD your God's altar with uncut stones.) Then offer up on that altar entirely burned sacrifices to the LORD your God.

7 Offer up well-being sacrifices and eat them there, celebrating in the LORD your God's presence.

8 Make sure to write all the words of this Instruction on the stones plainly and clearly.

9 Then Moses and the levitical priests said to all Israel: Quiet down and listen, Israel! This very moment you have become the people of the LORD your God.

10 So obey the LORD your God's voice. Do his commandments and his regulations that I'm giving you right now.

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]. Or in order that you might enter; Heb uncertain