Deuteronomy 27:11-26

Ceremony on Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal

11 That same day Moses commanded the people:

12 Once you have crossed over the Jordan River, the following tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.

13 And these are the tribes that will stand on Mount Ebal for the cursing: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

14 The Levites will address every individual Israelite with a loud voice:

15 "Cursed is anyone who makes an idol or an image—things detestable to the LORD, made by artisans—and sets it up secretly." All the people will reply: "We agree!"

16 "Cursed is anyone who belittles their father or mother." All the people will reply: "We agree!"

17 "Cursed is anyone who tampers with their neighbor's property lines." All the people will reply: "We agree!"

18 "Cursed is anyone who misleads a blind person on a road." All the people will reply: "We agree!"

19 "Cursed is anyone who obstructs the legal rights of immigrants, orphans, or widows." All the people will reply: "We agree!"

20 "Cursed is anyone who has sex with his father's wife, because that exposes his father's private matters." All the people will reply: "We agree!"

21 "Cursed is anyone who has sex with any kind of animal." All the people will reply: "We agree!"

22 "Cursed is anyone who has sex with his sister, whether his father's daughter or his mother's daughter." All the people will reply: "We agree!"

23 "Cursed is anyone who has sex with his mother-in-law." All the people will reply: "We agree!"

24 "Cursed is anyone who kills his neighbor in secret." All the people will reply: "We agree!"

25 "Cursed is anyone who accepts money to kill an innocent person." All the people will reply: "We agree!"

26 "Cursed is anyone who doesn't support the words of this Instruction by carrying them out." All the people will reply: "We agree!"

Deuteronomy 27:11-26 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]. Heb Amen; also in the following verses
• [b]. Or because that uncovers his father’s skirt