New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Deuteronomy 27
1
The elders of Israel and I gave commands to the people. We said, "Obey all of the commands we're giving you today.
Reference
2
"You will go across the Jordan River. You will enter the land the Lord your God is giving you. When you do, set up some large stones. Put a coat of plaster on them.
Reference
3
Write all of the words of this law on them. Do it when you have crossed over into the land the Lord your God is giving you. It's a land that has plenty of milk and honey. The Lord is the God of your fathers. He promised you that you would enter the land.
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
After you have gone across the Jordan, set up those stones on Mount Ebal. Put a coat of plaster on them. We're commanding you today to do that.
5
"Build an altar there to honor the Lord your God. Make it out of stones. Don't use any iron tool on them.
Reference
6
Use stones you find in the fields to build his altar. Then offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God.
7
Sacrifice friendship offerings there. Eat them and be filled with joy in the sight of the Lord your God.
Reference
8
"You must write all of the words of this law on the stones you have set up. Write the words very clearly."
Reference
9
Then the priests, who are Levites, and I spoke to all of the people of Israel. We said, "Israel, be quiet! Listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God.
11
Here are the commands I gave the people that very day.
12
You will go across the Jordan River. When you do, I want six tribes to stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people. Those tribes are Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin.
Reference
Parallel theme
Judges 9:7
13
I want the other six tribes to stand on Mount Ebal to announce some curses. Those tribes are Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.
Reference
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 27:4
14
The Levites will speak to all of the people of Israel in a loud voice. They will say,
Reference
References Israel
Daniel 9:11
15
"May any man who makes a wooden or metal statue of a god and sets it up in secret be under the Lord's curse. That statue is made by a skilled worker. And the Lord hates it." Then all of the people will 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
"May anyone who brings shame on his father or mother be under the Lord's curse." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"
Reference
17
"May anyone who moves his neighbor's boundary stone be under the Lord's curse." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"
Reference
18
"May anyone who leads blind people down the wrong road be under the Lord's curse." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"
Reference
19
"May anyone who isn't fair in the way he treats outsiders, widows, and children whose fathers have died be under the Lord's curse." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"
Reference
20
"May any man who has sex with his stepmother be under the Lord's curse. That man brings shame on his father by doing that." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"
Reference
21
"May anyone who has sex with animals be under the Lord's curse." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"
Reference
22
"May any man who has sex with his sister be under the Lord's curse. It doesn't matter whether she is his full sister or his half sister." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"
Reference
23
"May any man who has sex with his mother-in-law be under the Lord's curse." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"
Reference
24
"May anyone who kills his neighbor secretly be under the Lord's curse." Then all of the people will say, "Amen!"
Reference
25
"May anyone who accepts money to kill someone who isn't guilty of doing anything wrong be under the Lord's curse." Then all of the people will 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.