Renewal of the Covenant
1 Moses and the elders of Israel gave this order to the people: “Observe all the commandments that I give you today.
2 When you cross the Jordan to go to the land which Yahweh, your God, will give you, set up large stones and plaster them with lime.
3 Then you shall write upon them all the words of this Law at the time that you cross over, that you may enter the land which Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, will give you as he has promised, a land flowing with milk and honey.
4 When you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal as I command you today, and plaster them with lime.
5 Set up there an altar in honor of Yahweh, built with unhewn stones.
6 Build the altar to Yahweh with uncut stones and on this altar offer burnt offerings to Yahweh, your God.
7 There you shall also sacrifice peace offerings; you shall eat and feast in the presence of Yahweh, your God.
8 Write plain ly upon these stones all the words of this Law.”
9 Then Moses and the priests from the tribe of Levi said to the people of Israel: “Pay attention and listen, Israel. Today you have become the people of Yahweh, your God:
10 Listen, therefore, to his voice and put into practice the commandments and the norms that I give you today.”
11 On that day, Moses gave this command to the people:
12 When you have crossed the Jordan River, the tribes of Si meon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin shall stand on Mount Geri zim to repeat the blessings over the people,
13 while those of Reu ben, Gad, Asher, Ze bu lun, Dan and Naphtali shall stand on Mount Ebal to repeat the curses.
14 The Levites shall declare to all the Israelites with a loud voice:
15 Cursed be the man who makes an idol covered with metal, a thing hateful to Yahweh, the work of the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in a hidden place! All the people shall answer: Amen!
16 Cursed be he who despises his father or mother! And the people shall respond: Amen!
17 Cursed be he who moves the boun daries of his neighbor’s inheritance. All the people shall respond: Amen!
18 Cursed be he who leads the blind astray from the way! All the people shall respond: Amen!
19 Cursed be anyone who does not respect the rights of the foreigner, the orphan and the widow! All the people shall respond: Amen!
20 Cursed be he who lies with the wife of his father and dishonors his father’s bed! All the people shall respond: Amen!
21 Cursed be anyone who sins with any kind of animal! The people shall respond: Amen!
22 Cursed be he who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or mo ther! All the people shall respond: Amen!
23 Cursed be he who lies with his mother-in-law! All the people shall say: Amen!
24 Cursed be anyone who treacherously mur ders a neighbor! All the people shall say: Amen!
25 Cursed be anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person! All the people shall say: Amen!
26 Cursed be anyone who does not affirm the words of this Law by putting them into practice! And all the people shall say: Amen!
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Comments Deuteronomy, Chapter 27
• 27.1 In chapters 27–28 we have the conclusion of “the discourse of Moses” which was found in chapters 5–11.
Notice the ceremony for the renewal of the Covenant 27:4-26. It took place in Shechem, in the days of Joshua (Jos 8:32). The whole people promised to observe the ten command ments expressed here in the form of curses.
We know that this “discourse of Moses” was, in fact, written during the last days of the kingdom of Judah. At that time, it was enough to recall history to see the many misfortunes which had taken place because the people had not lived according to the way the Lord re quired. The blessings had not been many, nor had they lasted long. On the contrary, the most cruel situations described in this chapter had happened.
If you obey in truth the voice of Yahweh, he shall raise you high above all nations (28:1). The author is convinced that the people could follow all this and thus, find happiness. Yet, the conclusion is negative: in fact, Israel did not listen and would disobey to the extent of being lost. At the time when these pages were written, the prophet Jeremiah was much more pessimistic in saying that the First Covenant, with its promise of material happiness, was no longer valid. According to him it is as difficult for people to stop sinning as it is to change the color of their skin (Jer 13:23).
Thus, the actual law was very good, but Is ra el could not observe it until God gave be lievers a new heart and a new spirit (see Jer 31:31).