American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Deuteronomy 27
1
And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.
Reference
2
And it shall be on the day when you shall pass over Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set you up great stones, and plaster them with plaster:
Reference
3
And you shall write on them all the words of this law, when you are passed over, that you may go in to the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land that flows with milk and honey; as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you.
Reference
Covenant
Hebrews 10:16
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 26:9
Numbers 13:27
References Lord
Joshua 5:6
Numbers 14:8
Word
Joshua 8:32
4
Therefore it shall be when you be gone over Jordan, that you shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster.
5
And there shall you build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones: you shall not lift up any iron tool on them.
Reference
6
You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of whole stones: and you shall offer burnt offerings thereon to the LORD your God:
7
And you shall offer peace offerings, and shall eat there, and rejoice before the LORD your God.
Reference
9
And Moses and the priests the Levites spoke to all Israel, saying, Take heed, and listen, O Israel; this day you are become the people of the LORD your God.
10
You shall therefore obey the voice of the LORD your God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command you this day.
Reference
11
And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,
12
These shall stand on mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin:
Reference
Parallel theme
Judges 9:7
13
And these shall stand on mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
Reference
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 27:4
14
And the Levites shall speak, and say to all the men of Israel with a loud voice,
Reference
References Israel
Daniel 9:11
15
Cursed be the man that makes any graven or molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and puts it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 34:17
Exodus 20:4
Deuteronomy 5:8
Exodus 20:23
1 Corinthians 14:16
References Lord
Leviticus 19:4
Leviticus 26:1
16
Cursed be he that sets light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Reference
18
Cursed be he that makes the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Reference
19
Cursed be he that perverts the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Reference
20
Cursed be he that lies with his father's wife; because he uncovers his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Reference
22
Cursed be he that lies with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Reference
25
Cursed be he that takes reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Reference
Summary of Deuteronomy 27
Deuteronomy 27:1 prepares Israel for its entrance into the Promised Land. Moses instructs the people to set up a foundation of big stones, inscribe the word of God on them, construct an altar, and proclaim the blessings and curses in connection with keeping or rejecting God's law. The Israelites were to remember their covenant with God after they entered the Promised Land.
Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people to keep all of the commandments that were given to them. The people of Israel stood on the border of the Jordan River during the last days of Moses. They had crossed the wilderness and the time had come for them to enter into Canaan.
The people of Israel were to set up great stones and cover them with plaster when they crossed over to the land. On these they were to write the word of God so that it would be visible to all people as a reminder. Israel was to remember the law and observe it.
They set up the stones upon Mount Ebal and built an altar of uncarved stones upon the mount. They were to bring offerings of burnt sacrifices and peace offerings to the Lord and eat and rejoice there.
Israel was not entering into possession of the land merely as a prize. The people of Israel were God's covenant people. Israel's worship and obedience to God were to be the cornerstone of their national life.
Further instructions were given concerning a ritual to bless the people which involved all the tribes of Israel. Six tribes of Israel were to stand upon Mount Gerizim and six were to stand upon Mount Ebal when the blessings and cursing were to take place. The Levitical priests were to speak out loud so that all the people might hear all that was said. They would say, "Cursed be the man...", and so the people of Israel would all say "Amen".
The curses are concerned with idolatry and family relationships. Idolatry is first brought up because it was a serious violation of Israel's covenant faithfulness to God. The people of Israel were to have no other gods before the Lord. Anyone that secretly made a graven image or molten image and worshipped it would be under the curse of God. The people of Israel knew better and acted as if they did not know better.
Moving the landmark of one's neighbor was also prohibited. Landmarks marked the boundaries of possession. It was wrong to take advantage of one's neighbor and to secretly rob him of his possessions.
The people of Israel were under the curse for taking advantage of the blind and perverting the judgment of the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. Israel had been commanded to be responsible for those who could not help or protect themselves.
Sexual relations with close blood relatives were also prohibited. This was a violation of the Israelite social order. Further, any man who secretly killed his neighbor was to be under the curse of God.
The people of Israel were to agree that anyone who secretly took a bribe to kill an innocent man was to be cursed by all. The last part of the curses state that anyone who fails to do all of the words of the Torah was to be cursed by all. Anyone who did not confirm the words of the Torah by doing them was to be under a curse. All of the people were to say "Amen".
Deuteronomy 27:1-26 provides a covenantal picture of Israel's obligations to God and to her neighbor. The stones would declare the law, the sacrifices were to remind the people of God's continual provision for them, and the mountains provided the location for the public reading of the blessings and curses. All the people of Israel stood together in awe and reverence of what was to take place.
Some of the transgressions were not only done openly but they were acts of deception to hide their guilt from men. The people of Israel were to realize that even those things that were secret were not hidden from God. A man might secretly steal his neighbor's possessions or move his landmark. A woman might secretly abuse the blind. A man might accept a bribe to kill an innocent man. The people of Israel were to understand that it was not enough to merely keep the covenant law openly before all men. They were to examine their own motives and behavior as well. Their lives were to be lived in holiness before God.
The stranger, the fatherless, the widow, the blind, and the innocent neighbor were all to be protected by the people of Israel. If Israel was to maintain covenant faithfulness to God, these vulnerable groups in society were to be cared for and protected.
The mountains of Ebal and Gerizim prepared the people for the covenant ceremony that was to take place in the days to come and were a fitting setting for such a holy event. The Israelites were about to enter a new phase of their history with God and with their neighbors as well. There was much to consider as they took possession of the Promised Land. The Israelites had been commanded to observe all the Torah of Moses so that they might enjoy the blessings that came from living in covenant faithfulness to God.
Deuteronomy 27 does not contain the full list of blessings as the next chapter will tell. Moses laid down the basic importance of a covenant relationship with God by having the law written down and publicly declared. Further, the responsibility of Israel was not limited to God alone but was extended to her neighbors as well.
Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people to keep all of the commandments that were given to them. The people of Israel stood on the border of the Jordan River during the last days of Moses. They had crossed the wilderness and the time had come for them to enter into Canaan.
The people of Israel were to set up great stones and cover them with plaster when they crossed over to the land. On these they were to write the word of God so that it would be visible to all people as a reminder. Israel was to remember the law and observe it.
They set up the stones upon Mount Ebal and built an altar of uncarved stones upon the mount. They were to bring offerings of burnt sacrifices and peace offerings to the Lord and eat and rejoice there.
Israel was not entering into possession of the land merely as a prize. The people of Israel were God's covenant people. Israel's worship and obedience to God were to be the cornerstone of their national life.
Further instructions were given concerning a ritual to bless the people which involved all the tribes of Israel. Six tribes of Israel were to stand upon Mount Gerizim and six were to stand upon Mount Ebal when the blessings and cursing were to take place. The Levitical priests were to speak out loud so that all the people might hear all that was said. They would say, "Cursed be the man...", and so the people of Israel would all say "Amen".
The curses are concerned with idolatry and family relationships. Idolatry is first brought up because it was a serious violation of Israel's covenant faithfulness to God. The people of Israel were to have no other gods before the Lord. Anyone that secretly made a graven image or molten image and worshipped it would be under the curse of God. The people of Israel knew better and acted as if they did not know better.
Moving the landmark of one's neighbor was also prohibited. Landmarks marked the boundaries of possession. It was wrong to take advantage of one's neighbor and to secretly rob him of his possessions.
The people of Israel were under the curse for taking advantage of the blind and perverting the judgment of the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. Israel had been commanded to be responsible for those who could not help or protect themselves.
Sexual relations with close blood relatives were also prohibited. This was a violation of the Israelite social order. Further, any man who secretly killed his neighbor was to be under the curse of God.
The people of Israel were to agree that anyone who secretly took a bribe to kill an innocent man was to be cursed by all. The last part of the curses state that anyone who fails to do all of the words of the Torah was to be cursed by all. Anyone who did not confirm the words of the Torah by doing them was to be under a curse. All of the people were to say "Amen".
Deuteronomy 27:1-26 provides a covenantal picture of Israel's obligations to God and to her neighbor. The stones would declare the law, the sacrifices were to remind the people of God's continual provision for them, and the mountains provided the location for the public reading of the blessings and curses. All the people of Israel stood together in awe and reverence of what was to take place.
Some of the transgressions were not only done openly but they were acts of deception to hide their guilt from men. The people of Israel were to realize that even those things that were secret were not hidden from God. A man might secretly steal his neighbor's possessions or move his landmark. A woman might secretly abuse the blind. A man might accept a bribe to kill an innocent man. The people of Israel were to understand that it was not enough to merely keep the covenant law openly before all men. They were to examine their own motives and behavior as well. Their lives were to be lived in holiness before God.
The stranger, the fatherless, the widow, the blind, and the innocent neighbor were all to be protected by the people of Israel. If Israel was to maintain covenant faithfulness to God, these vulnerable groups in society were to be cared for and protected.
The mountains of Ebal and Gerizim prepared the people for the covenant ceremony that was to take place in the days to come and were a fitting setting for such a holy event. The Israelites were about to enter a new phase of their history with God and with their neighbors as well. There was much to consider as they took possession of the Promised Land. The Israelites had been commanded to observe all the Torah of Moses so that they might enjoy the blessings that came from living in covenant faithfulness to God.
Deuteronomy 27 does not contain the full list of blessings as the next chapter will tell. Moses laid down the basic importance of a covenant relationship with God by having the law written down and publicly declared. Further, the responsibility of Israel was not limited to God alone but was extended to her neighbors as well.