Deuteronomy 27
Overview
Deuteronomy 27 details a ceremony of blessing and cursing to be carried out by the Israelites on Mount Ebal and Gerizim, symbolizing their commitment to the covenant with God. This chapter is significant for its focus on the collective acknowledgment and reaffirmation of the Israelites' covenantal obligations. Key points include:
Setting Up Stones and an Altar on Mount Ebal: The chapter begins with Moses and the elders instructing the Israelites to set up large stones on Mount Ebal after crossing the Jordan River. These stones are to be coated with plaster and used to write all the words of the law.
Building an Altar and Offering Sacrifices: The Israelites are also commanded to build an altar of uncut stones on Mount Ebal, offering burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on it, celebrating with joy before the LORD their God.
Pronouncement of Blessings and Curses: The tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin are to stand on Mount Gerizim to pronounce blessings, while the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali are to stand on Mount Ebal for the curses.
Curses for Disobedience: Specific curses are then listed, to be spoken by the Levites and responded to by the people with 'Amen'. These curses address various transgressions, such as making idols, dishonoring parents, moving a neighbor's boundary stone, leading the blind astray, and various forms of injustice and immorality.
Emphasis on Covenantal Faithfulness: The ceremony serves as a public display of the Israelites’ commitment to the covenant, highlighting the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience. It reinforces the community's collective responsibility to adhere to God’s laws.
Deuteronomy 27 is crucial for its emphasis on covenantal faithfulness and the collective responsibility of the Israelite community to adhere to God’s commandments. The ceremony of blessing and cursing is a dramatic affirmation of the covenant, meant to impress upon the Israelites the seriousness of their commitment to God and the moral and ethical standards He expects from them.
Setting Up Stones and an Altar on Mount Ebal: The chapter begins with Moses and the elders instructing the Israelites to set up large stones on Mount Ebal after crossing the Jordan River. These stones are to be coated with plaster and used to write all the words of the law.
Building an Altar and Offering Sacrifices: The Israelites are also commanded to build an altar of uncut stones on Mount Ebal, offering burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on it, celebrating with joy before the LORD their God.
Pronouncement of Blessings and Curses: The tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin are to stand on Mount Gerizim to pronounce blessings, while the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali are to stand on Mount Ebal for the curses.
Curses for Disobedience: Specific curses are then listed, to be spoken by the Levites and responded to by the people with 'Amen'. These curses address various transgressions, such as making idols, dishonoring parents, moving a neighbor's boundary stone, leading the blind astray, and various forms of injustice and immorality.
Emphasis on Covenantal Faithfulness: The ceremony serves as a public display of the Israelites’ commitment to the covenant, highlighting the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience. It reinforces the community's collective responsibility to adhere to God’s laws.
Deuteronomy 27 is crucial for its emphasis on covenantal faithfulness and the collective responsibility of the Israelite community to adhere to God’s commandments. The ceremony of blessing and cursing is a dramatic affirmation of the covenant, meant to impress upon the Israelites the seriousness of their commitment to God and the moral and ethical standards He expects from them.
Deuteronomy 27
1 And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.
2 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:
3 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 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.
5 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 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 And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God.
8 And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.
9 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.
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End of Deuteronomy 27
1 Year Plan: Mar 26 - Deut 27, Deut 28, Ps 35
2 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:
3 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 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.
5 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 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 And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God.
8 And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.
9 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.
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End of Deuteronomy 27
1 Year Plan: Mar 26 - Deut 27, Deut 28, Ps 35
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