CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Deuteronomy 27
Chapter 27 of 34
Chapter Overview
What happens in Deuteronomy 27
Moses commands Israel to set up memorial stones on Mount Ebal, build an altar, and hold a covenant ceremony where the Levites pronounce twelve curses against specific sins.
Scripture
Deuteronomy 27
Stones and Altar on Mount Ebal
Study note
Moses commands Israel to set up large plastered stones on Mount Ebal after crossing the Jordan and to write all the words of the law on them. They must also build an altar of uncut stones and offer sacrifices to the Lord there.
1 Moses and the Israelite elders told the people. 'Obey every command I give you today. And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.
2 The day you cross the Jordan River into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up large stones and coat them with plaster. And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaster them with plaster:
3 After crossing, write all the words of this law on the stones. Do this so you can enter the land the Lord your God is giving you. It is a land overflowing with milk and honey. The Lord, the God of your forefathers, promised it to you. And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.
4 Once you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal as I am telling you today, and coat them with plaster. Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaster them with plaster.
5 Build an altar there for the Lord your God, an altar made from stones. Do not shape the stones with any metal tools. And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them.
6 Use natural, uncut stones to build the Lord your God's altar, and offer burnt offerings to him on it. Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God:
7 Also offer fellowship offerings and eat them there. Celebrate in the presence of the Lord your God. And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God.
8 Write every word of this law on the stones in clear, readable letters. And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.
Israel Becomes God's People
Study note
Moses and the Levite priests declare that today Israel has become the people of the Lord. Six tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless, and six tribes on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses, creating a dramatic covenant ceremony.
9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests addressed all of Israel: 'Be quiet and listen, Israel! Today you have officially become the people of the Lord your God. And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.
10 So obey the Lord your God and live by the commands and rules I am giving you today.' Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.
11 That same day, Moses gave these additional instructions to the people: And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,
12 After you cross the Jordan, these tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim. They will speak blessings over the people. The tribes are Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin:
13 And these tribes will stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce the curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
The Twelve Curses
Study note
The Levites pronounce twelve curses covering secret sins: idolatry, dishonoring parents, stealing land, misleading the blind, perverting justice, sexual sins, murder, bribery, and failing to obey God's law. After each curse, all the people respond 'Amen,' accepting these terms of the covenant.
14 The Levites will call out in a booming voice to all the people of Israel: And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice,
15 'A curse falls on anyone who carves or casts an idol -- something the Lord detests -- and hides it away in secret.' And everyone will respond, 'Amen.' Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.
16 'A curse falls on anyone who treats their father or mother with contempt.' And everyone will respond, 'Amen.' Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
17 'A curse falls on anyone who secretly moves a neighbor's boundary marker.' And everyone will respond, 'Amen.' Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.
18 'A curse falls on anyone who tricks a blind person into going the wrong way.' And everyone will respond, 'Amen.' Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.
19 'A curse falls on anyone who denies justice to foreigners, orphans, or widows.' And everyone will respond, 'Amen.' Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.
20 'A curse falls on anyone who sleeps with his father's wife, because he has shamed his father.' And everyone will respond, 'Amen.' Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.
21 'A curse falls on anyone who has sexual contact with any animal.' And everyone will respond, 'Amen.' Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.
22 'A curse falls on anyone who sleeps with his sister, whether she shares his father or his mother.' And everyone will respond, 'Amen.' Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
23 'A curse falls on anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law.' And everyone will respond, 'Amen.' Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.
24 'A curse falls on anyone who murders a neighbor in secret.' And everyone will respond, 'Amen.' Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.
25 'A curse falls on anyone who takes a bribe to murder an innocent person.' And everyone will respond, 'Amen.' Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.
26 'A curse falls on anyone who does not faithfully keep every word of this law.' And everyone will respond, 'Amen.' Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Key Themes
Themes in Deuteronomy 27
The covenant written in stoneCorporate accountability before GodBlessings and curses made tangibleSins done in secret are still sins
Prophetic Connections
How this chapter points to Christ
Deuteronomy 27:26 Galatians 3:10
Paul quotes 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law' to demonstrate that no one can be justified by the law, pointing to the need for Christ's redemption.
Apply This Today
Living Deuteronomy 27
The twelve curses focus heavily on sins committed in secret: dishonoring parents, moving boundary stones, misleading the blind, and sexual sins. The public declaration of 'Amen' to each curse showed that the community held itself accountable. There is no hidden sin before God. Integrity means being the same person in private that you are in public.
Go Deeper
Study Deuteronomy in Covenant Path
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