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Stone Memorials

27 Moses and the elders of Israel gave these orders to the people: “Observe all of the commandments[a] that I’m giving[b] you today. On the day you cross over the Jordan River to the land that the Lord your God is about to give you, set up large stones and coat them with plaster. Then inscribe on them all the words of this Law when you’ve crossed over into the land that the Lord your God is about to give you—a land flowing with milk and honey—just as the Lord God of your ancestors promised you.

“When you have crossed the Jordan River, set up these stones about which I’m commanding you today on Mount Ebal, and coat them with plaster. Then build an altar there to the Lord your God, an altar of stones that hasn’t been worked with iron tools. Build the altar to the Lord your God with uncut stones, then offer a burnt offering to him.[c] Offer a burnt offering there, then eat and rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God. Inscribe on the stones plainly and distinctly[d] all the words of this Law.”

Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to Israel. They said, “Be quiet and listen, Israel! Today you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10 Listen to his voice[e] and carry out his commands and statutes that I’m giving[f] you today.”

Penalties for Disobedience

11 Moses gave the people these commands that day:

12 “When you cross the Jordan River, these tribes[g] are to stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people—Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 The tribes of[h] Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali are to stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce the curse. 14 The descendants of Levi are to declare in a loud voice to every Israeli:

15 “‘Cursed is the one[i] who makes a sculptured or cast image—a detestable thing to the Lord, the work of a craftsman—and sets it up secretly.’

“Then all the people are to respond by saying, ‘Amen!’

16 “‘Cursed is the one who treats his father and mother with dishonor.’

“Then all the people are to respond by saying, ‘Amen!’

17 “‘Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.’

“Then all the people are to respond by saying, ‘Amen!’

18 “‘Cursed is the one who misleads a blind person on the road.’

“Then all the people are to respond by saying, ‘Amen!’

19 “‘Cursed is the one who perverts justice due the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow.’

“Then all the people are to respond by saying, ‘Amen!’

20 “‘Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his father’s wife, because he has disgraced his father.’[j]

“Then all the people are to respond by saying, ‘Amen!’

21 “‘Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with any animal.’

“Then all the people are to respond by saying, ‘Amen!’

22 “‘Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his sister, the daughter of his father or mother.’

“Then all the people are to respond by saying, ‘Amen!’

23 “‘Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his mother-in-law.’

“Then all the people are to respond by saying, ‘Amen!’

24 “‘Cursed is one who strikes his neighbor secretly.’

“Then all the people are to respond by saying, ‘Amen!’

25 “‘Cursed is one who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’

“Then all the people are to respond by saying, ‘Amen!’

26 “‘Cursed is the one who doesn’t uphold the words of this Law and observe them.’

“Then all the people are to respond by saying, ‘Amen!’”

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 27:1 So LXX. MT reads commandment
  2. Deuteronomy 27:1 Lit. commanding
  3. Deuteronomy 27:6 Lit. the Lord your God
  4. Deuteronomy 27:8 Lit. and make good
  5. Deuteronomy 27:10 Lit. voice of the Lord your God
  6. Deuteronomy 27:10 Lit. commanding
  7. Deuteronomy 27:12 The Heb. lacks tribes
  8. Deuteronomy 27:13 The Heb. lacks the tribes of
  9. Deuteronomy 27:15 Lit. man; and so through v. 26
  10. Deuteronomy 27:20 Lit. has uncovered his father’s garment

The Altar on Mount Ebal

27 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all these commands(A) that I give you today. When you have crossed the Jordan(B) into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones(C) and coat them with plaster.(D) Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey,(E) just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal,(F) as I command you today, and coat them with plaster. Build there an altar(G) to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool(H) on them. Build the altar of the Lord your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God. Sacrifice fellowship offerings(I) there, eating them and rejoicing(J) in the presence of the Lord your God.(K) And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones(L) you have set up.”(M)

Curses From Mount Ebal

Then Moses and the Levitical(N) priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God.(O) 10 Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.”

11 On the same day Moses commanded the people:

12 When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim(P) to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar,(Q) Joseph and Benjamin.(R) 13 And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal(S) to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.

14 The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice:

15 “Cursed is anyone who makes an idol(T)—a thing detestable(U) to the Lord, the work of skilled hands—and sets it up in secret.”

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”(V)

16 “Cursed is anyone who dishonors their father or mother.”(W)

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

17 “Cursed is anyone who moves their neighbor’s boundary stone.”(X)

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

18 “Cursed is anyone who leads the blind astray on the road.”(Y)

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

19 “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner,(Z) the fatherless or the widow.”(AA)

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

20 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he dishonors his father’s bed.”(AB)

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

21 “Cursed is anyone who has sexual relations with any animal.”(AC)

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

22 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.”(AD)

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

23 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law.”(AE)

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

24 “Cursed is anyone who kills(AF) their neighbor secretly.”(AG)

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

25 “Cursed is anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.”(AH)

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

26 “Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.”(AI)

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”(AJ)

27 And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.

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 plaister them with plaister:

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.

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 plaister them with plaister.

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.

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:

And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the Lord thy God.

And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.

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 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 And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,

12 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 shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

14 And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice,

15 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 Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.

18 Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.

19 Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.

20 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 Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.

22 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 Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.

24 Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.

25 Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.

26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.