Deuteronomy 27

1 Then Moses [the Israelite leader] and the elders [responsible men, old] of Israel commanded [gave orders, to appoint] the people: “Keep [to protect, attend to, guard] all [everything] the commandments [laws, rules] I am giving [to command, to ordain] you today [this day, at this time]. word study 2 And on the day [of great significance, a day of transition] you cross [pass over, transition from one thing to another] the Jordan [a key location, a border] into the land [a country, territory, or region, the promised land] that the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the one supreme God] is giving [bestowing, providing] you, set up [raise, erect] large [great, impressive] stones [rocks, monuments] and coat [whitewash, plaster] them with plaster [lime, a type of material used for building]. word study 3 Write [inscribe, record] on them all the words [chronicles, events] of this law [instruction, guidance] when you have crossed over [passed through, transitioned] to enter the land [territory, region] that the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme deity] is giving [providing, bestowing] you, a land [country, earth] flowing [abundant, overflowing] with milk and honey [a sweet and valuable food], just as the LORD [the Lord God], the God [Elohim] of your fathers [ancestors, forefathers], has promised [spoken, declared] you. word study 4 And when you have crossed [passed over, transitioned] the Jordan [the key river in Israel], you are to set up [raise, establish] these stones [rocks, monuments] on Mount Ebal [the mountain of cursing], as I am commanding [giving orders, appointing] you today [in this present time], and you are to coat [whitewash, plaster] them with plaster [lime, a building material]. word study 5 Moreover, you are to build [construct, establish] there an altar [place of sacrifice] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme God], an altar of stones [unhewn rocks, natural stones]. You must not use [lift up, wave] any iron [strong metal] tool [instrument, equipment] on them [upon the stones, over the altar]. word study 6 You shall build [construct, establish] the altar [place of sacrifice] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme one] with uncut [whole, unhewn] stones and offer [sacrifice, cause to ascend] upon it burnt offerings [steps or stairs to the altar] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God. word study 7 There you are to sacrifice [offer, immolate] your peace offerings [to show thanks, express gratitude], eating [devour, consume] them and rejoicing [being glad, celebrating] in the presence [face, before] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] your God [Elohim, the one supreme God]. word study 8 And you shall write [clearly and plainly, very distinctly] distinctly upon these stones [rocks, pillars] all the words [things, matters, events] of this law [instruction, teaching, Torah] [making them clear, engraving them well].” word study 9 Then Moses [the Israelite leader, mediator of God’s covenant] and the Levitical priests [descendants of Levi, serving God and leading worship] spoke to all [every single one, the entire nation] Israel: “Be silent [keep quiet, take heed], O Israel [God’s chosen people], and listen [hear and obey]! This day [at this very moment, in this present time] you have become [been made, come into being as] the people [a nation, a community] of the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler]. word study 10 You shall therefore obey [give ear to, hearken unto] the voice [sound, utterance] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme God] and follow [do, keep] His commandments [laws, decrees] and statutes [ordinances, regulations] I am giving you today [this day, at this time].” word study 11 On [that same, the very] that day Moses [the Israelite leader, a servant of God] commanded [gave orders, charged] the people [a nation, a group of individuals]: word study 12 “When you have crossed [passed over, transitioned] the Jordan [the river that separates], these tribes [specifically chosen, appointed] shall stand [in a strong sense, firmly established] on Mount Gerizim [a mountain of blessing, a sacred site] to bless [to praise, honor, or kneel in worship] the people [a nation, a community]: Simeon [Shimeon, the second son of Jacob], Levi [the son of Jacob and Leah], Judah [the tribe descended from Judah], Issachar [meaning ’there is recompense’], Joseph [Jehovah has added], and Benjamin [son of the right hand]. word study 13 And these [specific, chosen] tribes shall stand [in a strong sense, firmly] on Mount Ebal [the mountain of cursing] to deliver [pronounce, declare] the curse [a wish for harm, evil]: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. word study 14 Then the Levites [descendants of Levi, the priestly tribe] shall proclaim [speak, shout, answer] in a loud [exalted, raised] voice [sound, utterance] to every [all, each] Israelite [a child of Jacob, a member of God’s chosen people]: word study 15 ‘Cursed is the man who makes [constructs, creates] a carved idol [graven image, false god] or molten image [molten thing, cast metal idol]—an abomination [detestable thing, disgusting to God] to the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], the work [deed, action] of the hands [power, skill] of a craftsman [artificer, skilled worker]—and sets it up [puts, places] in secret [a hidden place, secretly].’ And let all [every single one] the people [nation, community] say [declare, affirm], ‘Amen!’ word study 16 ‘Cursed is he who dishonors [treats with contempt, sets light by] his father [the male parent, paternal figure] or mother [the female parent, maternal figure].’ And let all [the entire congregation, every individual] the people [the nation] say [declare, affirm], ‘Amen!’ word study 17 ‘Cursed is he who moves [removes, takes away] his neighbor’s [fellow, companion] boundary stone [landmark, marker].’ And let all [every single one] the people [nation, community] say [declare, affirm], ‘Amen!’ word study 18 ‘Cursed is he who lets a blind [physically or spiritually unable to see] man wander [to stray, make a moral mistake] in the road [way, path, or manner of life].’ And let all [every single one] the people [a nation, community] say, ‘Amen!’ word study 19 ‘Cursed is he who withholds [perverts, turns aside] justice [righteous judgment] from the foreigner [sojourner, stranger], the fatherless [orphan, without a father], or the widow [a woman without a husband, alone and vulnerable].’ And let all [every single one] the people [nation, community] say, ‘Amen!’ word study 20 ‘Cursed is he who sleeps [lies down, has sexual relations] with his father’s wife [his father’s woman, the one married to his father], for he has violated [dishonored, uncovered] his father’s marriage bed [his father’s skirt, the intimate relationship].’ And let all [every single one] the people say [declare, affirm], ‘Amen!’ word study 21 ‘Cursed is he who lies [to rest, to have sexual relations] with any [manner of, kind of] animal [beast, livestock].’ And let all [every, the whole] the people [nation, community] say [declare, affirm], ‘Amen!’ word study 22 ‘Cursed [to be utterly condemned, execrated] is he who sleeps [lies down, has sexual relations] with his sister [biological sibling, close relative], the daughter [female child, woman] of his father [or mother figure] or the daughter [female child, woman] of his mother [female parent].’ And let all [every single one] the people [nation, community] say [declare, affirm], ‘Amen [so be it, truly]!’ word study 23 ‘Cursed is he who sleeps [lies down, has sexual relations] with his mother-in-law [relative by marriage].’ And let all [every single one] the people [nation, community] say [declare, affirm], ‘Amen!’ word study 24 ‘Cursed is he who strikes down [smiteth, secretly attacks] his neighbor [fellow, companion] in secret [in hiding, secretly].’ And let all [every single one] the people [nation, community] say [declare, affirm], ‘Amen!’ word study 25 ‘Cursed is he who accepts [takes, receives] a bribe [a gift to influence wrongly, a reward] to kill [to smite, to murder] an innocent [morally clean, guiltless] person.’ And let all [every single one] the people [a nation, a community] say [declare, affirm], ‘Amen!’ word study 26 ‘Cursed is he who does not put [establish, confirm] the words [instructions, teachings] of this [specific, given] law [torah, instruction] into practice [to do, to make, to obey].’ And let all [every single one] the people [nation, community] say [declare, affirm], ‘Amen!’ word study