Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Deuteronomy » Chapter 27 » Verse 1-26

Deuteronomy 27:1-26 King James Version (KJV)

1 And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.

2 And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaster them with plaster:

3 And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.

4 Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaster them with plaster.

5 And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them.

6 Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God:

7 And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God.

8 And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.

9 And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.

10 Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.

11 And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,

12 These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin:

13 And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

14 And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice,

15 Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

16 Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbor's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.

18 Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.

19 Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.

20 Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

21 Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.

22 Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

23 Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.

24 Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbor secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.

25 Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.

26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.


Deuteronomy 27:1-26 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And Moses H4872 with the elders H2205 of Israel H3478 commanded H6680 the people, H5971 saying, H559 Keep H8104 all the commandments H4687 which I command H6680 you this day. H3117

2 And it shall be on the day H3117 when ye shall pass over H5674 Jordan H3383 unto the land H776 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 giveth H5414 thee, that thou shalt set thee up H6965 great H1419 stones, H68 and plaister H7874 them with plaister: H7875

3 And thou shalt write H3789 upon them all the words H1697 of this law, H8451 when thou art passed over, H5674 that thou mayest go in H935 unto the land H776 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 giveth H5414 thee, a land H776 that floweth H2100 with milk H2461 and honey; H1706 as the LORD H3068 God H430 of thy fathers H1 hath promised H1696 thee.

4 Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over H5674 Jordan, H3383 that ye shall set up H6965 these stones, H68 which I command H6680 you this day, H3117 in mount H2022 Ebal, H5858 and thou shalt plaister H7875 them with plaister. H7874

5 And there shalt thou build H1129 an altar H4196 unto the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 an altar H4196 of stones: H68 thou shalt not lift up H5130 any iron H1270 tool upon them.

6 Thou shalt build H1129 the altar H4196 of the LORD H3068 thy God H430 of whole H8003 stones: H68 and thou shalt offer H5927 burnt offerings H5930 thereon unto the LORD H3068 thy God: H430

7 And thou shalt offer H2076 peace offerings, H8002 and shalt eat H398 there, and rejoice H8055 before H6440 the LORD H3068 thy God. H430

8 And thou shalt write H3789 upon the stones H68 all the words H1697 of this law H8451 very H3190 plainly. H874

9 And Moses H4872 and the priests H3548 the Levites H3881 spake H1696 unto all Israel, H3478 saying, H559 Take heed, H5535 and hearken, H8085 O Israel; H3478 this day H3117 thou art become H1961 the people H5971 of the LORD H3068 thy God. H430

10 Thou shalt therefore obey H8085 the voice H6963 of the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 and do H6213 his commandments H4687 and his statutes, H2706 which I command H6680 thee this day. H3117

11 And Moses H4872 charged H6680 the people H5971 the same day, H3117 saying, H559

12 These shall stand H5975 upon mount H2022 Gerizim H1630 to bless H1288 the people, H5971 when ye are come over H5674 Jordan; H3383 Simeon, H8095 and Levi, H3878 and Judah, H3063 and Issachar, H3485 and Joseph, H3130 and Benjamin: H1144

13 And these shall stand H5975 upon mount H2022 Ebal H5858 to curse; H7045 Reuben, H7205 Gad, H1410 and Asher, H836 and Zebulun, H2074 Dan, H1835 and Naphtali. H5321

14 And the Levites H3881 shall speak, H6030 and say H559 unto all the men H376 of Israel H3478 with a loud H7311 voice, H6963

15 Cursed H779 be the man H376 that maketh H6213 any graven H6459 or molten image, H4541 an abomination H8441 unto the LORD, H3068 the work H4639 of the hands H3027 of the craftsman, H2796 and putteth H7760 it in a secret H5643 place. And all the people H5971 shall answer H6030 and say, H559 Amen. H543

16 Cursed H779 be he that setteth light H7034 by his father H1 or his mother. H517 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543

17 Cursed H779 be he that removeth H5253 his neighbour's H7453 landmark. H1366 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543

18 Cursed H779 be he that maketh the blind H5787 to wander H7686 out of the way. H1870 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543

19 Cursed H779 be he that perverteth H5186 the judgment H4941 of the stranger, H1616 fatherless, H3490 and widow. H490 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543

20 Cursed H779 be he that lieth H7901 with his father's H1 wife; H802 because he uncovereth H1540 his father's H1 skirt. H3671 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543

21 Cursed H779 be he that lieth H7901 with any manner of beast. H929 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543

22 Cursed H779 be he that lieth H7901 with his sister, H269 the daughter H1323 of his father, H1 or the daughter H1323 of his mother. H517 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543

23 Cursed H779 be he that lieth H7901 with his mother in law. H2859 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543

24 Cursed H779 be he that smiteth H5221 his neighbour H7453 secretly. H5643 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543

25 Cursed H779 be he that taketh H3947 reward H7810 to slay H5221 an innocent H5355 person. H5315 H1818 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543

26 Cursed H779 be he that confirmeth H6965 not all the words H1697 of this law H8451 to do H6213 them. And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543


Deuteronomy 27:1-26 American Standard (ASV)

1 And Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandment which I command you this day.

2 And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over the Jordan unto the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaster them with plaster:

3 and thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over; that thou mayest go in unto the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Jehovah, the God of thy fathers, hath promised thee.

4 And it shall be, when ye are passed over the Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaster them with plaster.

5 And there shalt thou build an altar unto Jehovah thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt lift up no iron `tool' upon them.

6 Thou shalt build the altar of Jehovah thy God of unhewn stones; and thou shalt offer burnt-offerings thereon unto Jehovah thy God:

7 and thou shalt sacrifice peace-offerings, and shalt eat there; and thou shalt rejoice before Jehovah thy God.

8 And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.

9 And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Keep silence, and hearken, O Israel: this day thou art become the people of Jehovah thy God.

10 Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of Jehovah thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.

11 And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,

12 These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are passed over the Jordan: Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin.

13 And these shall stand upon mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

14 And the Levites shall answer, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice,

15 Cursed be the man that maketh a graven or molten image, an abomination unto Jehovah, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and setteth it up in secret. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

16 Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbor's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.

18 Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.

19 Cursed be he that wresteth the justice `due' to the sojourner, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.

20 Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife, because he hath uncovered his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

21 Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.

22 Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

23 Cursed be he that lieth with his mother-in-law. And all the people shall say, Amen.

24 Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbor in secret. And all the people shall say, Amen.

25 Cursed be he that taketh a bribe to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.

26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.


Deuteronomy 27:1-26 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 `And Moses -- the elders of Israel also -- commandeth the people, saying, Keep all the command which I am commanding you to-day;

2 and it hath been, in the day that ye pass over the Jordan unto the land which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee, that thou hast raised up for thee great stones, and plaistered them with plaister,

3 and written on them all the words of this law in thy passing over, so that thou goest in unto the land which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee -- a land flowing with milk and honey, as Jehovah, God of thy fathers, hath spoken to thee.

4 `And it hath been, in your passing over the Jordan, ye raise up these stones which I am commanding you to-day, in mount Ebal, and thou hast plaistered them with plaister,

5 and built there an altar to Jehovah thy God, an altar of stones, thou dost not wave over them iron.

6 Of complete stones thou buildest the altar of Jehovah thy God, and hast caused to ascend on it burnt-offerings to Jehovah thy God,

7 and sacrificed peace-offerings, and eaten there, and rejoiced before Jehovah thy God,

8 and written on the stones all the words of this law, well engraved.'

9 And Moses speaketh -- the priests, the Levites, also -- unto all Israel, saying, `Keep silent, and hear, O Israel, this day thou hast become a people to Jehovah thy God;

10 and thou hast hearkened to the voice of Jehovah thy God, and done His commands, and His statutes, which I am commanding thee to-day.'

11 And Moses commandeth the people on that day, saying,

12 `These do stand, to bless the people, on mount Gerizzim, in your passing over the Jordan: Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin.

13 And these do stand, for the reviling, on mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

14 `And the Levites have answered and said unto every man of Israel -- a loud voice:

15 `Cursed `is' the man who maketh a graven and molten image, the abomination of Jehovah, work of the hands of an artificer, and hath put `it' in a secret place, -- and all the people have answered and said, Amen.

16 `Cursed `is' He who is making light of his father and his mother, -- and all the people have said, Amen.

17 `Cursed `is' he who is removing his neighbour's border, -- and all the people have said, Amen.

18 `Cursed `is' he who is causing the blind to err in the way, -- and all the people have said, Amen.

19 `Cursed `is' he who is turning aside the judgment of fatherless, sojourner, and widow, -- and all the people have said, Amen.

20 `Cursed `is' he who is lying with his father's wife, for he hath uncovered his father's skirt, -- and all the people have said, Amen.

21 `Cursed `is' he who is lying with any beast, -- and all the people have said, Amen.

22 `Cursed `is' he who is lying with his sister, daughter of his father, or daughter of his mother, -- and all the people have said, Amen.

23 `Cursed `is' he who is lying with his mother-in-law, -- and all the people have said, Amen.

24 `Cursed `is' he who is smiting his neighbour in secret, -- and all the people have said, Amen.

25 `Cursed `is' he who is taking a bribe to smite a person, innocent blood, -- and all the people have said, Amen.

26 `Cursed `is' he who doth not establish the words of this law, to do them, -- and all the people have said, Amen.


Deuteronomy 27:1-26 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandment which I command you this day.

2 And it shall be on the day when ye pass over the Jordan unto the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaster them with plaster:

3 and thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou goest over that thou mayest enter into the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Jehovah the God of thy fathers hath promised thee.

4 And it shall be when ye go over the Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, as I command you this day, on mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaster them with plaster.

5 And there shalt thou build an altar to Jehovah thy God, an altar of stones; thou shalt not lift up an iron [tool] upon them;

6 of whole stones shalt thou build the altar of Jehovah thy God; and thou shalt offer up burnt-offerings thereon to Jehovah thy God.

7 And thou shalt sacrifice peace-offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before Jehovah thy God.

8 And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.

9 And Moses and the priests, the Levites, spoke to all Israel, saying, Be silent and hearken, Israel! this day thou art become the people of Jehovah thy God.

10 And thou shalt hearken unto the voice of Jehovah thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.

11 And Moses gave commandment to the people the same day, saying,

12 These shall stand to bless the people upon mount Gerizim, when ye have gone over the Jordan: Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin.

13 And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

14 And the Levites shall declare and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice:

15 Cursed be the man that maketh a graven or molten image, an abomination to Jehovah, a work of the craftsman's hand, and putteth it up secretly! And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

16 Cursed be he that slighteth his father or his mother! And all the people shall say, Amen.

17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark! And all the people shall say, Amen.

18 Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way! And all the people shall say, Amen.

19 Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow! And all the people shall say, Amen.

20 Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; for he uncovereth his father's skirt! And all the people shall say, Amen.

21 Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast! And all the people shall say, Amen.

22 Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother! And all the people shall say, Amen.

23 Cursed be he that lieth with his mother-in-law! And all the people shall say, Amen.

24 Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly! And all the people shall say, Amen.

25 Cursed be he that taketh reward to smite mortally [shedding] innocent blood! And all the people shall say, Amen.

26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not the words of this law to do them! And all the people shall say, Amen.


Deuteronomy 27:1-26 World English Bible (WEB)

1 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandment which I command you this day.

2 It shall be on the day when you shall pass over the Jordan to the land which Yahweh your God gives you, that you shall set yourself up great stones, and plaster them with plaster:

3 and you shall write on them all the words of this law, when you are passed over; that you may go in to the land which Yahweh your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you.

4 It shall be, when you are passed over the Jordan, that you shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in Mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster.

5 There shall you build an altar to Yahweh your God, an altar of stones: you shall lift up no iron [tool] on them.

6 You shall build the altar of Yahweh your God of uncut stones; and you shall offer burnt offerings thereon to Yahweh your God:

7 and you shall sacrifice peace-offerings, and shall eat there; and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God.

8 You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.

9 Moses and the priests the Levites spoke to all Israel, saying, Keep silence, and listen, Israel: this day you are become the people of Yahweh your God.

10 You shall therefore obey the voice of Yahweh your God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command you this day.

11 Moses charged the people the same day, saying,

12 These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you are passed over the Jordan: Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin.

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

14 The Levites shall answer, and tell all the men of Israel with a loud voice,

15 Cursed be the man who makes an engraved or molten image, an abomination to Yahweh, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret. All the people shall answer and say, Amen.

16 Cursed be he who sets light by his father or his mother. All the people shall say, Amen.

17 Cursed be he who removes his neighbor's landmark. All the people shall say, Amen.

18 Cursed be he who makes the blind to wander out of the way. All the people shall say, Amen.

19 Cursed be he who wrests the justice [due] to the foreigner, fatherless, and widow. All the people shall say, Amen.

20 Cursed be he who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's skirt. All the people shall say, Amen.

21 Cursed be he who lies with any manner of animal. All the people shall say, Amen.

22 Cursed be he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. All the people shall say, Amen.

23 Cursed be he who lies with his mother-in-law. All the people shall say, Amen.

24 Cursed be he who strikes his neighbor in secret. All the people shall say, Amen.

25 Cursed be he who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person. All the people shall say, Amen.

26 Cursed be he who doesn't confirm the words of this law to do them. All the people shall say, Amen.


Deuteronomy 27:1-26 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Then Moses and the responsible men of Israel gave the people these orders: Keep all the orders which I have given you this day;

2 And on the day when you go over Jordan into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, put up great stones, coating them with building-paste,

3 And writing on them all the words of this law, after you have gone over; so that you may take the heritage which the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has said.

4 And when you have gone over Jordan, you are to put up these stones, as I have said to you today, in Mount Ebal, and have them coated with building-paste.

5 There you are to make an altar to the Lord your God, of stones on which no iron instrument has been used.

6 You are to make the altar of the Lord your God of uncut stones; offering on it burned offerings to the Lord your God:

7 And you are to make your peace-offerings, feasting there with joy before the Lord your God.

8 And put on the stones all the words of this law, writing them very clearly.

9 Then Moses and the priests, the Levites, said to all Israel, Be quiet and give ear, O Israel; today you have become the people of the Lord your God.

10 For this cause you are to give ear to the voice of the Lord your God, and do his orders and his laws which I give you this day.

11 That same day Moses said to the people,

12 These are to take their places on Mount Gerizim for blessing the people when you have gone over Jordan: Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Joseph and Benjamin;

13 And these are to be on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

14 Then the Levites are to say in a loud voice to all the men of Israel,

15 Cursed is the man who makes any image of wood or stone or metal, disgusting to the Lord, the work of man's hands, and puts it up in secret. And let all the people say, So be it.

16 Cursed is he who does not give honour to his father or mother. And let all the people say, So be it.

17 Cursed is he who takes his neighbour's landmark from its place. And let all the people say, So be it.

18 Cursed is he by whom the blind are turned out of the way. And let all the people say, So be it.

19 Cursed is he who gives a wrong decision in the cause of a man from a strange land, or of one without a father, or of a widow. And let all the people say, So be it.

20 Cursed is he who has sex relations with his father's wife, for he has put shame on his father. And let all the people say, So be it.

21 Cursed is he who has sex relations with any sort of beast. And let all the people say, So be it.

22 Cursed is he who has sex relations with his sister, the daughter of his father or of his mother. And let all the people say, So be it.

23 Cursed is he who has sex relations with his mother-in-law. And let all the people say, So be it.

24 Cursed is he who takes his neighbour's life secretly. And let all the people say, So be it.

25 Cursed is he who for a reward puts to death one who has done no wrong. And let all the people say, So be it.

26 Cursed is he who does not take this law to heart to do it. And let all the people say, So be it.

Commentary on Deuteronomy 27 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 27

De 27:1-10. The People Are to Write the Law upon Stones.

2. it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan—"Day" is often put for "time"; and it was not till some days after the passage that the following instructions were acted upon.

thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister—These stones were to be taken in their natural state, unhewn, and unpolished—the occasion on which they were used not admitting of long or elaborate preparation; and they were to be daubed over with paint or whitewash, to render them more conspicuous. Stones and even rocks are seen in Egypt and the peninsula of Sinai, containing inscriptions made three thousand years ago, in paint or plaister. By some similar method those stones may have been inscribed, and it is most probable that Moses learned the art from the Egyptians.

3. thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law—It might be, as some think, the Decalogue; but a greater probability is that it was "the blessings and curses," which comprised in fact an epitome of the law (Jos 8:34).

5-10. there shalt thou build an altar … of whole stones—The stones were to be in their natural state, as if a chisel would communicate pollution to them. The stony pile was to be so large as to contain all the conditions of the covenant, so elevated as to be visible to the whole congregation of Israel; and the religious ceremonial performed on the occasion was to consist: first, of the elementary worship needed for sinful men; and secondly, of the peace offerings, or lively, social feasts, that were suited to the happy people whose God was the Lord. There were thus, the law which condemned, and the typical expiation—the two great principles of revealed religion.

De 27:11-13. The Tribes Divided on Gerizim and Ebal.

11-13. These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people … these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse—Those long, rocky ridges lay in the province of Samaria, and the peaks referred to were near Shechem (Nablous), rising in steep precipices to the height of about eight hundred feet and separated by a green, well-watered valley of about five hundred yards wide. The people of Israel were here divided into two parts. On mount Gerizim (now Jebel-et-Tur) were stationed the descendants of Rachel and Leah, the two principal wives of Jacob, and to them was assigned the most pleasant and honorable office of pronouncing the benedictions; while on the twin hill of Ebal (now Imad-el-Deen) were placed the posterity of the two secondary wives, Zilpah and Bilhah, with those of Reuben, who had lost the primogeniture, and Zebulun, Leah's youngest son; to them was committed the necessary but painful duty of pronouncing the maledictions (see on Jud 9:7). The ceremony might have taken place on the lower spurs of the mountains, where they approach more closely to each other; and the course observed was as follows: Amid the silent expectations of the solemn assembly, the priests standing round the ark in the valley below, said aloud, looking to Gerizim, "Blessed is the man that maketh not any graven image," when the people ranged on that hill responded in full simultaneous shouts of "Amen"; then turning round to Ebal, they cried, "Cursed is the man that maketh any graven image"; to which those that covered the ridge answered, "Amen." The same course at every pause was followed with all the blessings and curses (see on Jos 8:33, 34). These curses attendant on disobedience to the divine will, which had been revealed as a law from heaven, be it observed, are given in the form of a declaration, not a wish, as the words should be rendered, "Cursed is he," and not, "Cursed be he."