Deuteronomy 27:9-26

Curses for Not Obeying the LORD

9 Then the priests, who are Levites, and I spoke to all of the people of Israel. We said, "Israel, be quiet! Listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your God.

10 Obey him. Follow his commands and rules that we're giving you today."

11 Here are the commands I gave the people that very day.

12 You will go across the Jordan River. When you do, I want six tribes to stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people. Those tribes are Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin.

13 I want the other six tribes to stand on Mount Ebal to announce some curses. Those tribes are Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.

14 The Levites will speak to all of the people of Israel in a loud voice. They will say,

15 "May any man who makes a wooden or metal statue of a god and sets it up in secret be under the LORD's curse. That statue is made by a skilled worker. And the LORD hates it." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"

16 "May anyone who brings shame on his father or mother be under the LORD's curse." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"

17 "May anyone who moves his neighbor's boundary stone be under the LORD's curse." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"

18 "May anyone who leads blind people down the wrong road be under the LORD's curse." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"

19 "May anyone who isn't fair in the way he treats outsiders, widows, and children whose fathers have died be under the LORD's curse." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"

20 "May any man who has sex with his stepmother be under the LORD's curse. That man brings shame on his father by doing that." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"

21 "May anyone who has sex with animals be under the LORD's curse." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"

22 "May any man who has sex with his sister be under the LORD's curse. It doesn't matter whether she is his full sister or his half sister." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"

23 "May any man who has sex with his mother-in-law be under the LORD's curse." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"

24 "May anyone who kills his neighbor secretly be under the LORD's curse." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"

25 "May anyone who accepts money to kill someone who isn't guilty of doing anything wrong be under the LORD's curse." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"

26 "May anyone who doesn't honor the words of this law by obeying them be under the LORD's curse." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"

Deuteronomy 27:9-26 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.