Deuteronomy 27 explained: Stones, an Altar, and Twelve Curses

The law written on stones (vv. 1-4)

Moses and the tribal leaders tell Israel to set up large plastered stones on Mount Ebal once they cross the Jordan, and write the law on them. Scholars are unsure whether this meant the whole law, its main commands, or just the blessings and curses.

An altar and a feast (vv. 5-8)

The altar was to be built of rough fieldstones untouched by iron tools, though the text does not say why. Sharing a meal from the offerings before God was a common way to seal and celebrate an agreement.

Now you are God's people (vv. 9-10)

The priests call for silence and declare that Israel has now become the people of the LORD. The command to obey God comes right after, tied to that new status.

Two mountains, twelve tribes (vv. 11-14)

Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal face each other across a narrow valley near the city of Shechem, with six tribes on each slope and the Levites calling out between them. Only curses follow here, and the book of Joshua later describes the ceremony taking place.

Curses on hidden wrongs (vv. 15-25)

Many of these wrongs happen in secret or against people who cannot defend themselves, such as moving a boundary stone to steal land, misleading a blind person, or killing for a bribe. By answering "Amen," meaning "so be it," the people publicly agreed that such acts stand under God's judgment even when no court could catch them.

The whole law (v. 26)

The final curse sums up the rest and falls on anyone who does not hold to this law by living it out. Christians read this verse in light of Jesus because Paul quotes it in Galatians 3 and argues that Christ took this curse on himself.

Key verse: Deuteronomy 27:26

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on what the closing curse shows: some take it to mean no one can keep the law perfectly and so all fall under it, while others see it as calling for loyalty to the covenant as a whole rather than flawless performance.

Something to think about

When you judge someone's character, how much weight do you give to what they do when they believe no one will ever find out?