5. Mooseksen kirjaLuku 27

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Then Moses and the elders of Israel charged the people: "Keep the whole commandment that I am giving you today.

On the day you cross the Jordan into the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up large stones and coat them with plaster.

Write on them all the words of this law when you cross over, so that you may enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.

And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I am commanding you today, and coat them with plaster.

Build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones; do not use any iron tool on them.

Build the altar of the LORD your God with uncut stones, and offer on it burnt offerings to the LORD your God.

Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eat them, and rejoice before the LORD your God.

And you shall write very clearly on the stones all the words of this law."

Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel: "Be silent, Israel, and listen! This day you have become the people of the LORD your God.

So obey the voice of the LORD your God and follow his commandments and statutes, which I am giving you today."

That same day Moses charged the people:

"When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.

And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

Then the Levites shall respond, calling out in a loud voice to every man of Israel:"

"Cursed is anyone who makes a carved or cast image—a thing detestable to the LORD, the work of a craftsman's hands—and sets it up in secret." And all the people shall answer, "Amen."

"Cursed is anyone who dishonors his father or his mother." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

"Cursed is anyone who moves his neighbor's boundary marker." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

"Cursed is anyone who leads the blind astray on the road." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

"Cursed is anyone who denies justice to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

"Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his father's wife, for he has dishonored his father's bed." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

"Cursed is anyone who has sexual relations with any animal." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

"Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

"Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

"Cursed is anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

"Cursed is anyone who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

"Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by doing them." And all the people shall say, "Amen."

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Yhteenveto2

Luku 27

Main Theme: Moses gives instructions about covenant renewal with stones, an altar, and curses when Israel crosses the Jordan.

Content: Moses and the elders of Israel command the people to set up large stones on Mount Ebal, cover them with plaster, and write the entire law on them. There they are also to build an altar of uncut stones and offer sacrifices to the Lord. Six tribes are to stand on Mount Gerizim to pronounce blessings, and six on Mount Ebal for the curses. The Levites proclaim twelve curses against those who break the covenant—including idolatry, disrespect for parents, injustice, and sexual sins—and the people respond "Amen" to each one.

Key Words/Images:

Stones with the law: A visible witness of the covenant that will remind the people of their obligation to God.
Altar of uncut stones: Symbolizes worship without human manipulation, a pure surrender to God.
Gerizim and Ebal: Two mountains representing the choice between blessing and curse.
The Curses (ארור): Twelve declarations marking the seriousness of breaking God's commands, especially in secret.
Amen: The people's solemn affirmation and acceptance of the covenant terms.

Historiallinen konteksti

Historical and Cultural Context for Deuteronomy 27

Places

The chapter mentions two mountains that played a central role in the ceremony: Ebal and Gerizim. These mountains are located in the central highlands of Samaria, with the ancient city of Shechem in the valley between them. Ebal lies north of the valley (about 940 meters above sea level) and Gerizim south of it (about 881 meters). The location was strategically important—Shechem lay at a major crossroads and was already connected to the patriarchs (Gen 12:6; 33:18-20). Archaeological excavations on Ebal have uncovered a large stone structure from the early Iron Age (about 1200 BCE) that some scholars have identified as an altar, although this remains debated.

Events and Customs

The Stone Monument with Inscription: The practice of erecting large stones, coating them with plaster (שִׂיד, sid), and writing laws on them was known in the ancient Near East. Egyptian and Mesopotamian cultures erected similar monuments. The plaster provided a white, smooth surface that made the writing visible and readable from a distance. The expression "clearly and plainly" (בַּאֵר הֵיטֵב, ba'er hetev) suggests that the text was to be easily understood by all.

The Altar of Uncut Stones: The prohibition against using iron tools on the stones of the altar (v. 5-6) reflects an important distinction between the holy and the profane. Iron tools were associated with war and human craftsmanship, while uncut stones represented nature as God created it. Similar prohibitions are found in Exod 20:25.

The Blessing and Cursing Ceremony: The litany of twelve curses (v. 15-26), with the people's "amen" response after each curse, has parallels in Hittite treaty texts and Egyptian cursing rituals. This form is called a "dodecalogue" (twelvefold), possibly corresponding to the twelve tribes. The Levites proclaiming the curses while the people responded created a public, binding obligation.

Key Terms

*אָרוּר (arur)* – "cursed": This word begins each of the twelve declarations. It denotes a state of being excluded from God's blessing and the community's protection. The curse is activated automatically when the prohibition is broken, without the need for human legal proceedings.

*אָמֵן (amen)*: The people's response means "so let it be" or "this is true and binding". By saying amen, each Israelite personally took responsibility for the covenant obligations and their consequences.

*הַסְכֵּת (hasket)* – "be silent and listen" (v. 9): This rare Hebrew verb occurs only twice in the Old Testament—here and in Deut 32:1. It implies a call to reverent, attentive silence before an important declaration.

Archaeological Finds

The so-called Ebal structure, excavated by archaeologist Adam Zertal between 1982 and 1989, has attracted considerable interest. The structure is a rectangular stone building with ramps and ash-filled layers containing animal bones (mainly from young oxen, sheep, and goats). Zertal identified this as Joshua's altar mentioned in Josh 8:30-35. Other scholars are more cautious and suggest alternative interpretations. Regardless of the identification, the find confirms cultic activity on the mountain during the relevant period.

Henkilöt12

Dan (The place name Dan mentioned in Genesis 14:14, not a person)1 Issachar1 Reuben (Leah's son)1 Asher (son of Zilpah)1 Zebulun (Leah's son)1 Benjamin (Rachel's son)1 Judah1 Naphtali (Bilhah's son)1 Joseph1 Jacob1 Gad (son of Zilpah)1 Moses2

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Avainsanat7

Stones — Large, flat stones that were used to build an altar and memorials according to God's instructions.
Altar — A sacred structure where offerings and prayers were given to God as part of the ancient Israelite cult system.
The Law — God's instructions and commandments given to Moses and the people of Israel to guide their lives and society.
Blessing — A positive statement or action from God that brings prosperity, happiness, and protection to the recipient.
Curse — A negative statement or action from God that brings misfortune, suffering, and punishment to the recipient.
Tribes — The twelve groups of the people of Israel descended from Jacob's twelve sons.
Gershonites — A subgroup of the Levites, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, who had specific duties in the tabernacle and later in the temple.