Deuteronomy Chapter 27 — The Altar and the Curses
Moses instructs the Israelites to set up plastered stones inscribed with the law and details the ceremony of blessings and curses at Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal.
1Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep all the commandment which I command you today.
2It shall be on the day when you shall pass over the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set yourself up great stones, and coat them with plaster.
3You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have passed over, that you may go in to the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you.
4It shall be, when you have crossed over the Jordan, that you shall set up these stones, which I command you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall coat them with plaster.
5There you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You shall not use any iron tool on them.
6You shall build the LORD your God’s altar of uncut stones. You shall offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.
7You shall sacrifice peace offerings, and shall eat there. You shall rejoice before the LORD your God.
8You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”
9Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silent and listen, Israel! Today you have become the people of the LORD your God.
10You shall therefore obey the LORD your God’s voice, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.”
11Moses commanded the people the same day, saying,
12“These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.
13These shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
14With a loud voice, the Levites shall say to all the men of Israel,
15‘Cursed is the man who makes an engraved or molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’
16‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother.’
17‘Cursed is he who removes his neighbor’s landmark.’
18‘Cursed is he who leads the blind astray on the road.’
19‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, fatherless, and widow.’
20‘Cursed is he who lies with*i.e., has sexual relations with his father’s wife, because he dishonors his father’s bed.’
21‘Cursed is he who lies with any kind of animal.’
22‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter.’
23‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’
24‘Cursed is he who secretly kills his neighbor.’
25‘Cursed is he who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.’
26‘Cursed is he who doesn’t uphold the words of this law by doing them.’
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Deuteronomy 27:3
“You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have passed over, that you may go in to the land which the LORD your God gives you...”
This verse emphasizes the importance of the written word as the foundation for the nation's life in the new land.
Deuteronomy 27:9
“Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, 'Be silent and listen, Israel! Today you have become the people of the LORD your God.'”
It marks a formal transition and reaffirmation of Israel's identity as God's chosen people.
Deuteronomy 27:26
“Cursed is he who doesn’t uphold the words of this law by doing them.”
This final curse summarizes the requirement for total obedience and serves as a transition into the blessings and curses of the following chapter.
Chapter Summary
In Deuteronomy 27, Moses and the elders command the Israelites to observe a specific ritual upon crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land. They are to set up large stones on Mount Ebal, coat them with plaster, and write all the words of the law clearly on them. Additionally, they are instructed to build an altar of uncut stones for burnt offerings and peace offerings to celebrate their covenant with God. The chapter then describes a formal ceremony where the tribes are divided: six tribes stand on Mount Gerizim to symbolize blessing, and six stand on Mount Ebal to symbolize cursing. The Levites are directed to recite twelve specific curses against those who commit sins in secret, such as idolatry, dishonoring parents, injustice toward the vulnerable, and various moral or ethical violations. The people are required to respond 'Amen' to each, confirming their commitment to uphold the law.
Frequently Asked Questions
The two mountains are Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. Six tribes stood on Mount Gerizim to represent blessings, while the other six stood on Mount Ebal to represent the curses.
The stones were coated with plaster to provide a smooth, white surface. This allowed the words of the law to be written plainly and permanently for all the people to see.
The Israelites were commanded to build an altar made of uncut stones. They were specifically told not to use any iron tools on the stones, preserving their natural state.
The curses served as a public warning against specific sins, many of which are committed in secret. By saying 'Amen,' the people acknowledged that they were legally and spiritually bound to follow these moral standards.
Study Note
The command to use uncut stones for the altar follows the precedent set in Exodus 20:25, signifying that the altar should not be shaped by human craftsmanship or pride.
Related Chapters
Deuteronomy 28
This chapter continues the discourse on the specific blessings and curses resulting from obedience or disobedience.
Joshua 8
This chapter records the historical fulfillment of Moses' instructions regarding the altar and the reading of the law at Mount Ebal.
Exodus 20
The curses in Deuteronomy 27 reflect the moral foundations established in the Ten Commandments.
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