Deuteronomy 27: Stones on Mount Ebal, and twelve curses with the people's Amen
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What happens?
Moses and the elders tell the people that when they cross the Jordan, they are to set up large stones on Mount Ebal, coat them with plaster, and write all the words of the law on them, and build an altar there of uncut stones. Six tribes are to stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people and six on Mount Ebal for the curse. The Levites are to call out twelve curses, and after each one all the people are to say "Amen."
Who is speaking?
The narrator frames the chapter. Moses and the elders of Israel speak to the people in verses 1 to 8, and Moses and the Levitical priests in verses 9 and 10. From verse 12 to the end Moses gives his instructions for the day on the two mountains: inside his words, the Levites call out the twelve curses in verses 15 to 26, and all the people answer "Amen" after each one. No verse is in gold, because none of these are words the text gives to God speaking himself. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep all the commandment which I command you today.
In plain English: Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: "Keep every command that I am giving you today.
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2It shall be on the day when you shall pass over the Jordan to the land which Yahweh your God gives you, that you shall set yourself up great stones, and coat them with plaster.
In plain English: On the day you cross the Jordan into the land Yahweh your God is giving you, set up large stones for yourselves and coat them with plaster (literally: lime).
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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 Yahweh your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you.
In plain English: When you have crossed over, write on them all the words of this law, so that you may go into the land Yahweh your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, promised you.
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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.
In plain English: When you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster.
Good to know: already said that the blessing is to be set on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal. Here the stones and the altar are on Mount Ebal. to tells that Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal and wrote a copy of Moses' law on the stones.
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5There you shall build an altar to Yahweh your God, an altar of stones. You shall not use any iron tool on them.
In plain English: Build an altar there to Yahweh your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them.
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6You shall build Yahweh your God’s altar of uncut stones. You shall offer burnt offerings on it to Yahweh your God.
In plain English: Build the altar of Yahweh your God with uncut (literally: whole) stones, and offer burnt offerings on it to Yahweh your God.
The Hebrew word: "Uncut" is shalem, which the dictionary gives as "complete": whole stones, not shaped with a tool. The same rule is in .
How it is translated: This Bible says "perfect" in 15 of the 27 verses that use shalem, and "uncut" in only 2: this verse and , where the altar is built.
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7You shall sacrifice peace offerings, and shall eat there. You shall rejoice before Yahweh your God.
In plain English: Sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, and rejoice before Yahweh your God.
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8You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”
In plain English: Write all the words of this law on the stones, very clearly."
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9Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silent and listen, Israel! Today you have become the people of Yahweh your God.
In plain English: Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel: "Be silent and listen, Israel! Today you have become the people of Yahweh your God.
The Hebrew word: "Be silent" is sakat, which the dictionary gives as "to observe quietly". This is the only verse in the Bible that uses it.
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10You shall therefore obey Yahweh your God’s voice, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.”
In plain English: So obey the voice of Yahweh your God, and do his commands and his statutes, which I am giving you today."
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11Moses commanded the people the same day, saying,
In plain English: That same day Moses commanded the people:
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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.
In plain English: "When you have crossed the Jordan, these are to stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.
Good to know: The six tribes on Mount Gerizim are sons of Leah and Rachel. The six on Mount Ebal are Reuben and Zebulun, sons of Leah, and the four sons of the servant women Bilhah and Zilpah ( to ). Here Levi is one of the twelve and Joseph is one tribe. The text does not say why the tribes are divided this way.
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13These shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
In plain English: These are to stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
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14With a loud voice, the Levites shall say to all the men of Israel,
In plain English: The Levites are to call out (literally: answer and say) in a loud voice to all the men of Israel:
Good to know: In Levi is among the tribes on Mount Gerizim, and here the Levites call out the curses. The text does not explain how the two fit together. tells that on the day this was done, all Israel stood on both sides of the ark, before the Levitical priests who carried it, with half of them in front of Mount Gerizim and half in front of Mount Ebal.
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15‘Cursed is the man who makes an engraved or molten image, an abomination to Yahweh, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ All the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’
In plain English: 'Cursed is the man who makes a carved or cast (this Bible: molten) idol, something Yahweh detests (this Bible: an abomination), the work of a craftsman's hands, and sets it up in secret.' And all the people are to answer, 'Amen.'
The Hebrew word: "Cursed" is arar, which the dictionary gives as "to execrate" (to call down harm on). In Deuteronomy it is in 16 verses: the twelve here, verses 15 to 26, and four in to . This Bible says "cursed" in all 16.
Good to know: "Amen" is the people's answer, as the woman's answer in . The dictionary gives it as "sure" and "truly". Half of the 24 verses in the Old Testament that use the word are here, verses 15 to 26.
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16‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
In plain English: 'Cursed is anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.' And all the people are to say, 'Amen.'
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17‘Cursed is he who removes his neighbor’s landmark.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
In plain English: 'Cursed is anyone who moves his neighbor's boundary marker (this Bible: landmark).' And all the people are to say, 'Amen.'
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18‘Cursed is he who leads the blind astray on the road.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
In plain English: 'Cursed is anyone who leads a blind person astray on the road.' And all the people are to say, 'Amen.'
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19‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, fatherless, and widow.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
In plain English: 'Cursed is anyone who twists (literally: turns aside) justice for the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.' And all the people are to say, 'Amen.'
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20‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he dishonors his father’s bed.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
In plain English: 'Cursed is anyone who lies with his father's wife, because he uncovers his father's skirt (this Bible: dishonors his father's bed).' And all the people are to say, 'Amen.'
Good to know: "Uncovered his father's skirt" is the same Hebrew wording as in . gives the same law in other words.
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21‘Cursed is he who lies with any kind of animal.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
In plain English: 'Cursed is anyone who lies with any kind of animal.' And all the people are to say, 'Amen.'
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22‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
In plain English: 'Cursed is anyone who lies with his sister, his father's daughter or his mother's daughter.' And all the people are to say, 'Amen.'
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23‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
In plain English: 'Cursed is anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.' And all the people are to say, 'Amen.'
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24‘Cursed is he who secretly kills his neighbor.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
In plain English: 'Cursed is anyone who kills (literally: strikes) his neighbor in secret.' And all the people are to say, 'Amen.'
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25‘Cursed is he who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
In plain English: 'Cursed is anyone who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.' And all the people are to say, 'Amen.'
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26‘Cursed is he who doesn’t uphold the words of this law by doing them.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’”
In plain English: 'Cursed is anyone who does not uphold (literally: raise up) the words of this law by doing them.' And all the people are to say, 'Amen.'"
Good to know: quotes this curse: "Cursed is everyone who doesn't continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them."
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