Deuteronomy 27

The Law Written on Stones

¹Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep all the commandment which I command you today.

²It shall be on the day when you shall pass over the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set yourself up great stones, and coat them with plaster.

³You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have passed over, that you may go in to the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you.

⁴It shall be, when you have crossed over the Jordan, that you shall set up these stones, which I command you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall coat them with plaster.

⁵There you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You shall not use any iron tool on them.

⁶You shall build the LORD your God’s altar of uncut stones. You shall offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.

⁷You shall sacrifice peace offerings, and shall eat there. You shall rejoice before the LORD your God.

⁸You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”

⁹Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silent and listen, Israel! Today you have become the people of the LORD your God.

¹⁰You shall therefore obey the LORD your God’s voice, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.”

Curses from Mount Ebal

¹¹Moses commanded the people the same day, saying,

¹²“These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.

¹³These shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

¹⁴With a loud voice, the Levites shall say to all the men of Israel,

¹⁵‘Cursed is the man who makes an engraved or molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ All the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’

¹⁶‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

¹⁷‘Cursed is he who removes his neighbor’s landmark.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

¹⁸‘Cursed is he who leads the blind astray on the road.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

¹⁹‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, fatherless, and widow.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

²⁰‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he dishonors his father’s bed.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

²¹‘Cursed is he who lies with any kind of animal.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

²²‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

²³‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

²⁴‘Cursed is he who secretly kills his neighbor.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

²⁵‘Cursed is he who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

²⁶‘Cursed is he who doesn’t uphold the words of this law by doing them.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’”

Previous Deuteronomy 26

Next Deuteronomy 28

Moses instructs Israel to establish a covenant renewal ceremony upon entering the Promised Land, involving the inscription of the law on plastered stones at Mount Ebal and the construction of an altar for sacrifices. The chapter details a dramatic liturgical ceremony where six tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim to pronounce blessings while six tribes stand on Mount Ebal for curses. Twelve specific curses are pronounced by the Levites, covering violations ranging from idolatry and dishonoring parents to sexual immorality and murder, with the people responding 'Amen' to each curse.

Context

This chapter follows Moses' exposition of the law in chapters 12-26 and prepares for the blessings and curses detailed in chapter 28, establishing the ceremonial framework for covenant renewal in the land.

Key Themes

Outline

1-8
Instructions for Writing the Law on Stones Moses commands the people to inscribe the law on plastered stones at Mount Ebal and build an altar for offerings.
9-10
Declaration of Covenant Identity Moses and the priests declare Israel as God's people and call for obedience to His commandments.
11-14
Arrangement of Tribes for Blessing and Cursing Six tribes are assigned to Mount Gerizim for blessings and six to Mount Ebal for curses, with Levites proclaiming the words.
15-26
The Twelve Covenant Curses Specific curses are pronounced against various sins including idolatry, dishonoring parents, injustice, and sexual immorality.

The Law Written on Stones

27:1–27:10

law instruction solemn

Moses commands the people to write the law on stones and build an altar on Mount Ebal after crossing the Jordan, establishing them as God's covenant people.

person_contrast

Moses uniquely delegates lawgiving authority to Israel's elders here, marking the only instance where he shares his legislative role before entering the promised land.

Curses from Mount Ebal

27:11–27:26

law instruction solemn

Moses instructs the Israelites to perform a covenant ceremony with blessings and curses, where the Levites pronounce twelve curses for various violations of God's law. The people respond 'Amen' to each curse, binding themselves to the covenant obligations.

quotation_chain

Paul's quotation of Deuteronomy 27:26 in Galatians 3:10 transforms the covenant curse formula from Israel's national boundary marker into his universal argument against justification by law.

Insight Character Study

Moses uniquely delegates lawgiving authority to Israel's elders here, marking the only instance where he shares his legislative role before entering the promised land.

Insight Quotation Chain

Paul's quotation of Deuteronomy 27:26 in Galatians 3:10 transforms the covenant curse formula from Israel's national boundary marker into his universal argument against justification by law.