The Law Written on Stones

27 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, “Keep every command I am giving you today. At the time you cross the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, you must set up large stones and cover them with plaster.(A) Write all the words of this law on the stones after you cross to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey,(B) as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you. 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 cover them with plaster. Build an altar of stones there to the Lord your God—you must not use any iron tool on them.(C) Use uncut stones to build the altar of the Lord your God and offer burnt offerings to the Lord your God on it. There you are to sacrifice fellowship offerings, eat, and rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God. Write clearly all the words of this law on the plastered stones.”

The Covenant Curses

Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! This day you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10 Obey the Lord your God and follow His commands and statutes I am giving you today.”

11 On that day Moses commanded the people, 12 “When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 And these tribes will stand on Mount Ebal to deliver the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.(D) 14 The Levites will proclaim in a loud voice to every Israelite:

15 ‘The person who makes a carved idol or cast image, which is detestable to the Lord, the work of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret is cursed.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen!’
16 ‘The one who dishonors his father or mother is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
17 ‘The one who moves his neighbor’s boundary marker is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
18 ‘The one who leads a blind person astray on the road is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
19 ‘The one who denies justice to a foreigner, a fatherless child, or a widow is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
20 ‘The one who sleeps with his father’s wife is cursed, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’[a]
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
21 ‘The one who has sexual intercourse with any animal is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
22 ‘The one who sleeps with his sister, whether his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
23 ‘The one who sleeps with his mother-in-law is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
24 ‘The one who secretly kills his neighbor is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
25 ‘The one who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
26 ‘Anyone who does not put the words of this law into practice is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 27:20 Lit has uncovered the edge of his father’s garment; Ru 3:9; Ezk 16:8

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)