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Deuteronomy 27

26 verses

TL;DR

Moses commands Israel to set up stone tablets and an altar on Mount Ebal after crossing the Jordan, to write the law, and to proclaim blessings on Mount Gerizim and curses on Mount Ebal as a public reminder of covenant obedience.

Summary

In Deuteronomy 27, Moses and the elders instruct the Israelites to erect great stones on Mount Ebal and plaster them with white lime, then write on them the words of the law. They also build a stone altar on the same mount to offer burnt and peace offerings, celebrating the entrance into the Promised Land. The priests and Levites then read aloud blessings from Mount Gerizim and curses from Mount Ebal, enumerating specific transgressions such as idolatry, immorality, and injustice. The chapter emphasizes the covenant’s public proclamation and the collective responsibility of Israel to uphold God's commandments. It concludes with a solemn call for the people to heed God's voice and remain faithful, lest they fall under the curses declared.

Outline
  1. Set up stone tablets and altar on Mount Ebal, write the law, and offer sacrifices.
  2. Public proclamation of blessings on Mount Gerizim and curses on Mount Ebal.
  3. Detailed enumeration of specific curses and a command to obey the law.
Themes
Covenant fidelity and public witnessBlessing and curse as covenant enforcementCollective responsibility of Israel
Keywords
lawcovenantblessingcursealtarstonesIsraelMosesGodpublic proclamation
People
Moseselders of IsraelpriestsLevitesIsraelite peopleSimeonLeviJudahIssacharJosephBenjaminReubenGadAsherZebulunDanNaphtali
Places
Jordan RiverMount EbalMount GerizimLand of Canaan
Things
great stonesplasterlaw textstone altarburnt offeringspeace offeringsblessingscurses
Key Verses
  • Deuteronomy 27:1: Moses initiates the instructions for the covenant observances.
  • Deuteronomy 27:2-4: Describes the erection of stones on Mount Ebal to memorialize the law.
  • Deuteronomy 27:5-7: Specifies the building of the altar and the types of offerings.
  • Deuteronomy 27:12-13: Differentiates blessings and curses according to tribal location.
  • Deuteronomy 27:15-26: Lists the specific curses, underscoring covenant violations.
Questions
  • Why does Moses emphasize the use of stone and plaster for the tablets?
  • What is the significance of the distinct locations—Mount Gerizim for blessings and Mount Ebal for curses?
  • How do the listed curses reflect the ethical concerns of ancient Israel?
  • In what way does the public reading of blessings and curses serve to reinforce communal identity?
  • What lessons can contemporary readers draw from the covenantal emphasis on collective responsibility?
Sentiment

mixed
The passage contains both positive instructions (blessings, covenant promises) and harsh warnings (curses, penalties).