Deuteronomy 27 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~1406 BC, with instructions for a ceremony to be held after the Jordan crossing
Location
The plains of Moab, pointing ahead to Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, two facing hills flanking the town of Shechem in the central highlands of Canaan
Audience
The second generation of Israelites, given a script for a national ceremony they will perform once they are inside the land
Situation
Moses orders large plastered stones inscribed with the law and an altar of uncut stones set up on Mount Ebal, then arranges six tribes on each mountain to pronounce blessings and curses, with the Levites calling out twelve curses to which the whole nation answers amen.
Key Background
Shechem sits in a natural amphitheater between two steep hills, and the acoustics there genuinely carry a voice from the valley floor to crowds on both slopes, which is why the site was chosen. Writing a law text on stones coated with plaster was a known Egyptian and Canaanite method for public monuments, so the instruction describes a recognized way of publishing a document where everyone could see it. The twelve curses target offenses committed in secret, such as moving a boundary stone, misleading a blind traveler or taking a bribe, cases where no human court would ever find out, and the nation's spoken amen makes each person a party to the agreement.
Moses, along with Israel's gave the people this command: "Keep every I'm giving you today."
On the day you cross the into the land Yahweh your God is giving you, set up large stones and coat them with
Write on them every word of this once you've crossed over, so you can enter the Yahweh your God is giving you — a with and — just as Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
Once you've crossed the Jordan, set these stones up on just as I'm telling you today, and coat them with plaster.
Build an there to Yahweh your God — an made of stones. Don't use any on them.
Build Yahweh your God's altar with whole, uncut stones, and offer on it to Yahweh your God.
Sacrifice and eat them there, celebrating in front of Yahweh your God.
Write every word of this instruction on the stones, and
Then Moses and the said to all Israel, "Be quiet and listen, Israel. Today you have become the people of Yahweh your God."
So obey the voice of Yahweh your God and follow his instructions and that I'm giving you today.
That same day Moses gave the people these orders:
"When you cross the Jordan, these tribes will stand on to the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin."
"And these tribes will stand on Mount Ebal for the Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali."
The Levites will then declare in a loud voice to every person in Israel:
"Cursed is anyone who carves or casts an — something to Yahweh, the work of a craftsman's hands — and sets it up in secret." And all the people will answer,
"Cursed is anyone who their father or mother." And all the people will say, "Absolutely."
"Cursed is anyone who moves their neighbor's And all the people will say, "Absolutely."
"Cursed is anyone who a the And all the people will say, "Absolutely."
"Cursed is anyone who for the the orphan, or the widow." And all the people will say, "Absolutely."
"Cursed is anyone who with father's wife, because he has what to And all the people will say, "Absolutely."
"Cursed is anyone who has with And all the people will say, "Absolutely."
"Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his sister — whether his father's daughter or his mother's daughter." And all the people will say, "Absolutely."
"Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law." And all the people will say, "Absolutely."
"Cursed is anyone who their neighbor." And all the people will say, "Absolutely."
"Cursed is anyone who accepts a to kill an And all the people will say, "Absolutely."
"Cursed is anyone who does not the words of this by following them." And all the people will say, "Absolutely."