Make a monument to the law
1Moses, in a joint address with other leaders, told the people of Israel: “Follow all the laws I’m giving you today. 2Then when you cross the Jordan River and step onto the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up a stone marker. [1] Use large stones and coat them in plaster. [2] 3Write on that monument every word of this law. [3] Do it right after you cross the river so you can safely go into the land where milk and honey flow like rivers. It’s land the LORD your God is giving you, just as he promised your ancestors.4After you cross the Jordan River, put this stone monument on Mount Ebal [4] and coat the stones with plaster. Do just what I’m telling you. 5When you get there, build the stone altar. Don’t shape the stones with chisels. 6Find uncut stones and stack them in a pile to form a sacrificial altar. There, you’ll sacrifice burnt offerings [5] to the LORD your God. 7You’ll also sacrifice peace offerings. [6] Then you’ll eat together and celebrate as the LORD your God watches. 8Write every word of the law onto these stones.”
Take the law to the hills
9Then Moses, in a joint address with the Levite priests, told the people, “Listen to me, all you people of Israel. Today it’s official. You are now God’s people. [7] 10So now is when you need to follow all of his laws and obey the rules I’m telling you today.” 11Moses also said, 12“When you cross the Jordan River, go to the twin mountains of Gerizim and Ebal. [8] Have these six tribes stand on Mount Gerizim and recite [9] God’s blessings for following the law: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, [10] and Benjamin. 13Have these six tribes stand on Mount Ebal and recite the painful consequences of breaking the law: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.Doomed. Can I get an “Amen”?
14Then the tribe of Levi will shout these words. [11] 15“Doomed. [12] Those are the people who carve idols out of wood or make metal ones in a mold. Artisans, mere humans, make those things in secret. Idols like that disgust the LORD.”All the Israelites will reply, “Amen.” [13]
16“Doomed. Those are people who treat their father or mother like dirt.”
The people will say, “Amen.”
17“Doomed. Those are people who try to steal their neighbor’s land by moving the boundary markers.”
The people will say, “Amen.”
18“Doomed. Those are people who point blind folks in the wrong direction.”
The people will say, “Amen.”
19“Doomed. Those are people who cheat immigrants, orphans, or widows.” [14]
The people will say, “Amen.”
20“Doomed. People who have sex with their father’s wife. That’s a dishonorable way to treat your own dad.”
The people will say, “Amen.”
21“Doomed. Those are people who have sex with any animal.”
The people will say, “Amen.”
22“Doomed. Those are people who have sex with their sister—daughter of their father or mother.”
The people will say, “Amen.”
23“Doomed. People who have sex with their mother-in-law.”
The people will say, “Amen.”
24“Doomed. Those are people who murder their fellow Israelites in secret.”
The people will say, “Amen.”
25“Doomed. Those are people who get paid to hurt someone.”
The people will say, “Amen.”
26“Doomed. Those are people who don’t follow the law.”
The people will say, “Amen.”
