Deuteronomy 27. Mt. Ebal

The Altar on Mount Ebal

• This is the beginning of Moses’ final speech which focuses on the Covenant.

Now Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep the whole commandment that I command you today. ² And on the day you cross over the Jordan to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones and plaster them with plaster. ³ And you shall write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over to enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you. ⁴ And when you have crossed over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones, concerning which I command you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster. ⁵ And there you shall build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. You shall wield no iron tool on them; ⁶ you shall build an altar to the Lord your God of uncut stones. And you shall offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God, ⁷ and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and shall eat there, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God. ⁸ And you shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”

• When Israel crosses the Jordan, they are to set up large stones on Mount Ebal to make an altar
  • coat stones with plaster and write words of the law on them 
  • They must also construct an altar on Mount Ebal using uncut stones, without shaping them with iron tools.
  • They will offer burnt offerings and peace offerings, eat, and rejoice before God.
• We see this in Joshua 8

Curses from Mount Ebal

⁹ Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Keep silence and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the Lord your God. ¹⁰ You shall therefore obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.”

• “Keep silence and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the Lord your God.” – reaffirming the covenant

¹¹ That day Moses charged the people, saying, ¹² “When you have crossed over the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. ¹³ And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. ¹⁴ And the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel in a loud voice:

• When entering the land, half the tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim to proclaim blessings, and half on Mount Ebal for curses.

Mount	Tribes	Purpose
Mount Gerizim	Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph (Ephraim & Manasseh), Benjamin	To proclaim blessings for obedience.
Mount Ebal	Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali	To proclaim curses for disobedience.

¹⁵ “‘Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the Lord, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’

¹⁶ “‘Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

¹⁷ “‘Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor’s landmark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

¹⁸ “‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

¹⁹ “‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

²⁰ “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s nakedness.’^[b] And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

²¹ “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with any kind of animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

²² “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

²³ “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

²⁴ “‘Cursed be anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

²⁵ “‘Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

²⁶ “‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

• 12 Curses from Mt. Ebal
  • Making or worshiping an idol.
  • Dishonoring father or mother.
  • Moving a neighbor’s boundary marker.
  • Misleading a blind person.
  • Withholding justice from foreigners, orphans, or widows.
  • Sleeping with father’s wife (incest).
  • Bestiality (sexual relations with an animal).
  • Sleeping with sister (daughter of father or mother).
  • Sleeping with mother-in-law.
  • Attacking or striking a neighbor in secret.
  • Taking a bribe to kill an innocent person.
  • Not upholding the words of the law by carrying them out.