Deuteronomy 27:8-26

8 Write clearly and carefully all the words of these teachings on the stones you set up."

9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, "Be quiet and listen, Israel. Today you have become the people of the LORD your God.

10 Obey the LORD your God and follow his commands and laws which I'm giving you today."

11 That same day Moses gave the people this command:

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

13 These are the tribes that will stand on Mount Ebal to announce the curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

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

15 "Whoever has a carved or metal statue, anything disgusting to the LORD that was made by a craftsman, and sets it up in secret will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

16 "Whoever curses his father or mother will himself be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

17 "Whoever moves his neighbor's boundary marker will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

18 "Whoever leads blind people in the wrong direction will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

19 "Whoever deprives foreigners, orphans, or widows of justice will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

20 "Whoever has sexual intercourse with his father's wife will be cursed. He has disgraced his father." Then all the people will say amen.

21 "Whoever has sexual intercourse with any animal will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

22 "Whoever has sexual intercourse with his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

23 "Whoever has sexual intercourse with his mother-in-law will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

24 "Whoever kills another person secretly will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

25 "Whoever accepts money to kill an innocent person will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

26 "Whoever doesn't obey every word of these teachings will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

Deuteronomy 27:8-26 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.