# Deuteronomy 27 š: Curses from Mount Ebal
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#š Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#š Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#š§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#āļø Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#š Key Principles / š Life Application]]
> [[#š¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#āļø Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#š Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#š Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#š Internal Notes]]
## š Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### The Assembly at Shechem
[[#Verse 01.]]Ā Then Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: āPay attention to all the commandmentsĀ I am givingĀ you today.
[[#Verse 02.]]Ā When you cross the Jordan RiverĀ to the land theĀ LordĀ your God is giving you, you must erect great stones and coverĀ them with plaster.
[[#Verse 03.]]Ā Then you must inscribe on them all the words of this law when you cross over, so that you may enter the land theĀ LordĀ your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey just as theĀ Lord, the God of your ancestors,Ā said to you.
[[#Verse 04.]]Ā So when you cross the Jordan you must erect on Mount EbalĀ these stones about which I am commanding you today, and you must cover them with plaster.Ā
[[#Verse 05.]]Ā Then you must build an altar there to theĀ LordĀ your God, an altar of stonesādo not use an iron tool on them.Ā
[[#Verse 06.]]Ā You must build the altar of theĀ LordĀ your God with whole stones and offer burnt offerings on it to theĀ LordĀ your God.Ā
[[#Verse 07.]]Ā Also you must offer fellowship offerings and eat them there, rejoicing before theĀ LordĀ your God.Ā
[[#Verse 08.]]Ā You must inscribe on the stones all the words of this law, making them clear.ā
[[#Verse 09.]]Ā Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel: āBe quiet and pay attention, Israel. Today you have become the people of theĀ LordĀ your God.Ā
[[#Verse 10.]]Ā You must obey himĀ and keep his commandments and statutes that I am giving you today.āĀ
[[#Verse 11.]]Ā Moreover, Moses commanded the people that day:Ā
[[#Verse 12.]]Ā āThe following tribesĀ must stand to bless the people on Mount Gerizim when you cross the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.Ā
[[#Verse 13.]]Ā And these other tribes must stand for the curse on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
### The Covenant Curses
[[#Verse 14.]]Ā āThe Levites will call out to every IsraeliteĀ with a loud voice:Ā
[[#Verse 15.]]Ā āCursed is the oneĀ who makes a carved or metal imageāsomething abhorrentĀ to theĀ Lord, the work of the craftsmanāand sets it up in a secret place.ā Then all the people will say, āAmen!ā
[[#Verse 16.]]Ā āCursedĀ is the one who disrespectsĀ his father and mother.ā Then all the people will say, āAmen!āĀ
[[#Verse 17.]]Ā āCursed is the one who moves his neighborās boundary marker.ā Then all the people will say, āAmen!ā
[[#Verse 18.]]Ā āCursed is the one who misleads a blind person on the road.ā Then all the people will say, āAmen!āĀ
[[#Verse 19.]]Ā āCursed is the one who perverts justice for the resident foreigner, the orphan, and the widow.ā Then all the people will say, āAmen!āĀ
[[#Verse 20.]]Ā āCursed is the one who goes to bed withĀ his fatherās former wife,Ā for he dishonors his father.āĀ Then all the people will say, āAmen!āĀ
[[#Verse 21.]]Ā āCursed is the one who commits bestiality.āĀ Then all the people will say, āAmen!āĀ
[[#Verse 22.]]Ā āCursed is the one who goes to bedĀ with his sister, the daughter of either his father or mother.ā Then all the people will say, āAmen!āĀ
[[#Verse 23.]]Ā āCursed is the one who goes to bedĀ with his mother-in-law.ā Then all the people will say, āAmen!āĀ
[[#Verse 24.]]Ā āCursed is the one who killsĀ his neighbor in private.ā Then all the people will say, āAmen!āĀ
[[#Verse 25.]]Ā āCursed is the one who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.ā Then all the people will say, āAmen!āĀ
[[#Verse 26.]]Ā āCursed is the one who refuses to keep the words of this law.ā Then all the people will say, āAmen!ā
## š Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
## š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim face each other, with the city of Shechem in the valley between them.
2. Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin stood on Gerizim to bless (27:12).
3. Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali stood on Ebal for the curses (27:13).
4. The altar had to be made of uncut stones, with no iron tool used on them (27:5-6; Exodus 20:25).
5. Joshua carried out these commands in Joshua 8:30-35.
6. Writing on plastered surfaces was known in the region. The Deir Alla inscription, which mentions Balaam, was written on plaster.
7. There are twelve curses in 27:15-26, and the people answer each one with "Amen."
8. "Amen" comes from a Hebrew root meaning firm or sure. It means "so be it."
9. The Samaritans later treated Mount Gerizim as their holy mountain (John 4:20).
10. In the 1980s archaeologist Adam Zertal excavated a structure on Mount Ebal that he identified as an altar. Its purpose is still debated.
## š§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## āļø Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the One who bore the curse of the law. Everyone who fails to keep the law falls under the curse (27:26), but Christ redeemed us by becoming a curse for us (Galatians 3:10, 13).
## š Key Principles / š Life Application
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š¬ Discussion Questions
1. Why would God command the law to be written plainly on large stones (27:2-8)?
2. The people said "Amen" after each curse (27:15-26). What does it mean to agree with God about sin?
3. Many of these sins are done in secret (27:15, 24). Why does God care about what is hidden?
## āļø Key Verses to Remember
- š verses 2-3: Set up large stones, coat them with plaster, and write the law on them.
- š verses 9-10: Today Israel has become the people of the Lord, so they must obey Him.
- š verse 26: A curse falls on anyone who does not keep the words of this law.
## š Related Passages/Cross Reference
- š [[Galatians 03#Verse 10.|Galatians 3:10-13]] - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law.
- š [[Joshua 08#Verse 30.|Joshua 8:30-35]] - Joshua builds the altar on Mount Ebal.
- š [[Deuteronomy 11#Verse 29.|Deuteronomy 11:29]] - The blessing on Gerizim and the curse on Ebal.
- š [[John 04#Verse 20.|John 4:20-21]] - The Samaritan woman and Mount Gerizim.
- š [[Romans 03#Verse 19.|Romans 3:19-24]] - All are accountable, and all may be justified by grace.
## š Devotional Reflection
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š Internal Notes