๐ [Deuteronomy 27] Write the Law on Mount Ebal and Proclaim the Curse
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๐ Key Summary of Deuteronomy 27
In Deuteronomy 11:31, it was already stated that after crossing the Jordan, the Israelites were to take possession of the land and live there, with Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal before them.
“For you will cross over the Jordan to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you; and you shall possess it and dwell in it.” (v. 31)
I see Deuteronomy 27 as a more detailed explanation and practical execution of what had already been announced.
① After crossing the Jordan, set up stones on Mount Ebal and write the Law on them (verses 1–8)
After crossing the Jordan, the Israelites were commanded to set up large stones, coat them with plaster, and write the Law on them.
On Mount Ebal, they were to build an altar to the Lord, offer burnt offerings and peace offerings, and rejoice before God.
✔️ The text clearly commands them to write all the words of this Law clearly and accurately on the stones (v. 8).
② The six tribes who would stand on Mount Gerizim for the blessing
Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin (v. 12).
③ The six tribes who would stand on Mount Ebal to proclaim the curse
Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali (v. 13).
The two groups would stand facing each other from the two mountains, proclaiming the covenant.
✔️ Since the Levites would proclaim the Law first, and all the people would respond “Amen,” I think the Levites would have been positioned between the two mountains. ๐
④ The curse upon those who violate the Law (verses 14–26)
The Levites would proclaim various sins in a loud voice, and all the people would respond “Amen.”
Whoever makes idols;
Whoever dishonors his father or mother;
Whoever moves his neighbor’s boundary marker;
Whoever leads a blind person astray;
Whoever perverts the justice due to the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow;
Whoever commits various forms of sexual immorality;
Whoever secretly kills his neighbor;
Whoever accepts a bribe to put an innocent person to death;
Whoever does not uphold the words of this Law by putting them into practice.
All the people would respond “Amen,” acknowledging the justice of God.
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Conclusion – 1
The content of Deuteronomy 27 is the proclamation of the curse on Mount Ebal, not on Mount Gerizim.
Therefore, it was on Mount Ebal, not Mount Gerizim, that God commanded the stones to be set up, covered with plaster, and the entire Law to be written on them. ๐
Considering that the command God repeatedly and most importantly gave to the Israelites was not to worship idols, and that this is also the first commandment of the Ten Commandments, I think it makes sense that the proclamation of the curse was recorded on Mount Ebal.
And there is something that changed...
→ The command “Honor your father and your mother” could have been presented as a proclamation of blessing, but that is not how it was written in chapter 27.
→ Instead, it was written as “Whoever dishonors his father or his mother,” making it a proclamation of the curse.
→ Likewise, all the matters concerning the neighbor, the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow were recorded as acts that must not be committed, thereby becoming proclamations of the curse.
✔️ In other words, instead of writing the expression “Love your neighbor,” I think God recorded on the stones of Mount Ebal the negative form — “Whoever does harm to his neighbor” — so that it would become a proclamation of the curse. ๐
Conclusion – 2
✔️ Deuteronomy 27 is not a chapter that proclaims blessings. Rather, it is a chapter in which God commands that the curse for disobedience, which He was most concerned about, be proclaimed on Mount Ebal.
The stones on which the Law was to be written were to be set up on Mount Ebal;
The altar was also to be built on Mount Ebal.
On the other hand, Mount Gerizim is mentioned only in connection with the six tribes who would stand there for the blessing. There is no command recorded to set up stones or build an altar on Mount Gerizim.
Therefore, we can understand that the center of Deuteronomy 27 is not Mount Gerizim, but the covenant and the proclamation of the curse carried out on Mount Ebal.
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