Deuteronomy 27 · Clearspring

The Altar on Mount Ebal

¹Then Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all the commandments I am giving you today.+ ²And on the day you cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, set up large stones and coat them with plaster.+ ³Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you.+ ⁴And when you have crossed the Jordan, you are to set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I am commanding you today, and you are to coat them with plaster.+ ⁵Moreover, you are to build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You must not use any iron tool on them.+ ⁶You shall build the altar of the LORD your God with uncut stones and offer upon it burnt offerings to the LORD your God.+ ⁷There you are to sacrifice your peace offerings, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God.+ ⁸And you shall write distinctly upon these stones all the words of this law.”+ ⁹Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel: “Be silent, O Israel, and listen! This day you have become the people of the LORD your God.+ ¹⁰You shall therefore obey the voice of the LORD your God and follow His commandments and statutes I am giving you today.”+

Curses Pronounced from Ebal

¹¹On that day Moses commanded the people:+ ¹²“When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.+ ¹³And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to deliver the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.+ ¹⁴Then the Levites shall proclaim in a loud voice to every Israelite:+ ¹⁵‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image — an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman — and sets it up in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’+ ¹⁶‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’+ ¹⁷‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’+ ¹⁸‘Cursed is he who lets a blind man wander in the road.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’+ ¹⁹‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’+ ²⁰‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’+ ²¹‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’+ ²²‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’+ ²³‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his mother-in-law.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’+ ²⁴‘Cursed is he who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’+ ²⁵‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’+ ²⁶‘Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’’’+

The Altar on Mount Ebal

Curses Pronounced from Ebal

Study Deuteronomy 27