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Chapter 27

The Altar on Mount Ebal. Then Moses, with the elders of Israel, commanded the people, saying: Keep this whole commandment which I give you today. On the day you cross the Jordan into the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. Write on them,(A) at the time you cross, all the words of this law, so that you may enter the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. When you cross the Jordan, on Mount Ebal you shall set up these stones concerning which I command you today, and coat them with plaster, (B)and you shall build there an altar to the Lord, your God, an altar made of stones that no iron tool has touched. You shall build this altar of the Lord, your God, with unhewn stones, and shall offer on it burnt offerings to the Lord, your God. You shall also offer communion sacrifices[a] and eat them there, rejoicing in the presence of the Lord, your God. On the stones you shall inscribe all the words of this law very clearly.

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Footnotes

  1. 27:7 Communion sacrifices: The principal feature of this ritual (see Lv 3:1–17) is the sharing of the sacrifice with God, the priest and the person offering the sacrifice, who eat it as a holy thing (cf. Ex 24:5).

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)

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12 (A)When you cross the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. 13 And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.

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

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