1 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, "Keep all the commandment which I command you this day. 2 It 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 plaster them with plaster: 3 and you 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. 4 It shall be, when you have passed over the 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 There you shall build an altar to Yahweh your God, an altar of stones: you shall lift up no iron (tool) on them. 6 You shall build the altar of Yahweh your God of uncut stones; and you shall offer burnt offerings thereon to Yahweh your God: 7 and you shall sacrifice peace offerings, and shall eat there; and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God. 8 You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly." 9 Moses and the priests the Levites spoke to all Israel, saying, "Keep silence, and listen, Israel: this day you have become the people of Yahweh your God. 10 You shall therefore obey the voice of Yahweh your God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command you this day." 11 Moses commanded the people the same day, saying, 12 "These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have passed over the Jordan: Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 These shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14 The Levites shall answer, and tell all the men of Israel with a loud voice, 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.' 16 'Cursed is he who sets light by his father or his mother.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 17 'Cursed is he who removes his neighbor's landmark.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 18 'Cursed is he who makes the blind to wander out of the way.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 19 'Cursed is he who wrests the justice (due) to the foreigner, fatherless, and widow.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 20 'Cursed is he who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's skirt.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 21 'Cursed is he who lies with any kind of animal.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 22 'Cursed is he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 23 'Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 24 'Cursed is he who strikes his neighbor in secret.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 25 'Cursed is he who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 26 'Cursed is he who doesn't confirm the words of this law to do them.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.'"
Moses commands the people to write the law upon stones, when they shall come to the promised land, Deuteronomy 27:1-3. And to set up these stones on Mount Ebal, Deuteronomy 27:4; and to build an altar of unhewn stones, and to offer on it burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, Deuteronomy 27:5-7. The words to be written plainly, and the people to be exhorted to obedience, Deuteronomy 27:8-10. The six tribes which should stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, Deuteronomy 27:11, Deuteronomy 27:12. Those who are to stand upon Mount Ebal to curse the transgressors, Deuteronomy 27:13. The different transgressors against whom the curses are to be denounced, Deuteronomy 27:14-26.
INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 27
In this chapter the people of Israel are ordered to write the law on plastered stones, and set them on Mount Ebal, Deuteronomy 27:1; where they are bid to erect an altar, and offer sacrifices on it, Deuteronomy 27:5; and are charged by Moses and the priests to obey the Lord, and keep his commandments, Deuteronomy 27:9; and a direction is given to each tribes which should stand and bless, and which curse, and where, Deuteronomy 27:11; and the curses which the Levites should pronounce with a loud voice, and the people should say Amen to, are recited, Deuteronomy 27:14; and the whole is concluded with a curse on all who in general do not perform the whole law, Deuteronomy 27:26.
(Deuteronomy 27:1-10) The law to be written on stones in the promised land.
(v. 11-26) The curses to be pronounced on mount Ebal.
III. Third Discourse, or Renewal of the Covenant - Deuteronomy 27-30
The conclusion of the covenant in the land of Moab, as the last address in this section (ch. 29 and 30) is called in the heading (Deuteronomy 29:1) and in the introduction (Deuteronomy 29:9.), i.e., the renewal of the covenant concluded at Horeb, commences with instructions to set up the law in a solemn manner in the land of Canaan after crossing over the Jordan (ch. 27). After this there follows an elaborate exposition of the blessings and curses which would come upon the people according to their attitude towards the law (ch. 28). And lastly, Moses places the whole nation with a solemn address before the face of the Lord, and sets before it once more the blessing and the curse in powerful and alarming words, with the exhortation to choose the blessing and life (ch. 29 and 30).
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.