Deuteronomy Chapter 27 in Simple English

Read Deuteronomy Chapter 27

1Moses, with the elders of Israel, commanded the people. He said, "Keep all the commandments which I command you today."

2"On the day when you cross over the Jordan into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, set up great stones for yourself, and cover them with plaster."

3"When you have crossed over, write on them all the words of this law. Then you may go into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD God of your fathers promised you."

4"So when you have gone over the Jordan, set up these stones on mount Ebal, as I command you today, and cover them with plaster."

5"There you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You shall not lift up any iron tool on them."

6"Build the altar of the LORD your God of whole stones, and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God."

7"You shall offer peace offerings, and eat there, and rejoice before the LORD your God."

8"Write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly."

9Then Moses and the priests, the Levites, spoke to all Israel. They said, "Pay attention, and listen, Israel. Today you have become the people of the LORD your God."

10"So you shall obey the voice of the LORD your God, and do his commandments and his laws, which I command you today."

11That same day Moses gave the people this charge:

12"When you have crossed over the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin."

13"And these shall stand on mount Ebal to curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali."

14"And the Levites shall speak, and say to all the men of Israel with a loud voice:"

15"Cursed is the man who makes any carved or cast image, a thing the LORD hates, the work of a craftsman's hands, and sets it up in a secret place." And all the people shall answer and say, "Amen."

16"Cursed is the one who treats his father or his mother with contempt." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

17"Cursed is the one who moves his neighbour's boundary stone." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

18"Cursed is the one who makes the blind wander out of the way." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

19"Cursed is the one who twists justice against the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

20"Cursed is the one who lies with his father's wife, because he uncovers his father's skirt." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

21"Cursed is the one who lies with any kind of animal." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

22"Cursed is the one who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

23"Cursed is the one who lies with his mother-in-law." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

24"Cursed is the one who strikes down his neighbour in secret." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

25"Cursed is the one who takes a payment to kill an innocent person." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

26"Cursed is the one who does not uphold all the words of this law and do them." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

Explanation

Deuteronomy 27

In short

Moses instructs Israel to set up plastered stones with the law written on them after crossing the Jordan, and to build an altar there. The chapter then describes a ceremony where tribes stand on two mountains while the Levites pronounce curses against various secret sins and violations of the covenant, and the people respond by saying Amen.

Context

This is Moses' final instruction to Israel before they enter the promised land. He is speaking to the whole people, with the elders present. The ceremony described here is meant to happen once they have crossed the Jordan River into Canaan. It serves as a public commitment to keep the law of God and an acknowledgment of the consequences of breaking it.

What the text says

Moses and the elders command the people to keep all the commandments (verse 1). When they cross the Jordan, they must set up large plastered stones and write the entire law upon them (verses 2-3). These stones go on Mount Ebal, and they must build an altar of uncut stones there for burnt offerings and peace offerings (verses 4-7). The law is to be written on the stones very plainly (verse 8).

Moses reminds Israel they are now God's people and must obey his commandments (verses 9-10). Six tribes stand on Mount Gerizim to bless, and six on Mount Ebal to curse (verses 12-13). The Levites speak to all Israel with a loud voice, pronouncing curses against idolatry, dishonoring parents, stealing land boundaries, misleading the blind, perverting justice for vulnerable people, sexual sins, secret violence, taking payment to kill an innocent person, and failing to uphold all the law's words (verses 14-26). After each curse, all the people say Amen.

Takeaways

The writing of the law on public stones made it permanently visible to the whole community entering the new land.
The ceremony with curses and the people's Amen responses created a binding agreement, with each person acknowledging the penalties for breaking covenant.
The curses target both hidden sins and crimes against others, showing that God's law covers secret wrongs as well as public harm.

Deuteronomy 27 - Simple English