Deuteronomy 27

The Altar on Mount Ebal// Joshua 8:30–35

¹Then Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all the commandments I am giving you today.

²And on the day you cross the Jordan into the land that Yahweh your God is giving you, set up large stones and coat them with plaster. ³Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land that Yahweh your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you. ⁴And 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 coat them with plaster.

• DT 27:4[TEXT]The Samaritan Bible reads Mount Gerizim here, the Samaritans' holy mountain. A few scholars think Gerizim was the first reading. Most Bibles follow Ebal.
• DT 27:4[FIELD NOTES]A stone structure on Mount Ebal may be an altar. See the Mount Ebal Altar Field Notes page.

⁵Moreover, you are to build there an altar to Yahweh your God, an altar of stones. You must not use any iron tool on them. ⁶You shall build the altar of Yahweh your God with uncut stones and offer upon it burnt offerings to Yahweh your God. ⁷There you are to sacrifice your peace offerings, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of Yahweh your God. ⁸And you shall write distinctly upon these stones all the words of this law.”

⁹Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel: “Be silent, O Israel, and listen! This day you have become the people of Yahweh your God. ¹⁰You shall therefore obey the voice of Yahweh your God and follow His commandments and statutes I am giving you today.”

Curses Pronounced from Ebal

¹¹On that day Moses commanded the people: ¹²“When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. ¹³And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to deliver the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

¹⁴Then the Levites shall proclaim in a loud voice to every Israelite:

¹⁵‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image—an abomination to Yahweh, the work of the hands of a craftsman—and sets it up in secret.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

• DT 27:15[DEMONIC]Cursed is anyone who makes an idol in secret

¹⁶‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

¹⁷‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

¹⁸‘Cursed is he who lets a blind man wander in the road.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

¹⁹‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

²⁰‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

²¹‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

²²‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

²³‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his mother-in-law.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

²⁴‘Cursed is he who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

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

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

²⁶‘Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.’

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

• DT 27:26[QUOTED]Quoted in the New Testament → GAL 3:10