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Deuteronomy 27
1Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep all the commandment which I command you today.
2It shall be on the day when you shall pass over the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set yourself up great stones, and coat them with plaster.
3You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have passed over, that you may go in to the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you.
4It shall be, when you have crossed over the Jordan, that you shall set up these stones, which I command you today, on Ebal, and you shall coat them with plaster.
5There you shall build an to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You shall not use any iron tool on them.
6You shall build the LORD your God’s of uncut stones. You shall offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.
7You shall peace offerings, and shall eat there. You shall rejoice before the LORD your God.
8You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”
9Moses and the Levitical spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silent and listen, Israel! Today you have become the people of the LORD your God.
10You shall therefore obey the LORD your God’s voice, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.”
11Moses commanded the people the same day, saying,
12“These shall stand on Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.
13These shall stand on Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
14With a loud voice, the Levites shall say to all the men of Israel,
15‘Cursed is the man who makes an engraved or molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ All the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’
16‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
17‘Cursed is he who removes his neighbor’s landmark.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
18‘Cursed is he who leads the blind astray on the road.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
19‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, fatherless, and widow.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
20‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he dishonors his father’s bed.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
21‘Cursed is he who lies with any kind of animal.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
22‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
23‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
24‘Cursed is he who secretly kills his neighbor.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
25‘Cursed is he who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
26‘Cursed is he who doesn’t uphold the words of this law by doing them.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’”
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Questions this passage answers
Who is God?
God is the one living Creator who made everything and depends on nothing, and Scripture answers this question mainly by telling us his character rather than by defining his substance. When God described himself to Moses he said he is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in loving kindness and truth, and yet will by no means clear the guilty. The New Testament adds that this God is finally known in Jesus Christ, who has made him known.
What does it mean to fear the Lord?
The fear of the LORD is not terror of an unpredictable God. It is the reverence of a creature who has rightly understood who God is, holy, sovereign and near, and who therefore takes him seriously in every decision. Proverbs calls it the beginning of knowledge, because a person who has not reckoned with God has not yet begun to understand anything rightly.