DEUTERONOMY LESSON 29

     We will begin this lesson in Deuteronomy 27:1 "And Moses with the
elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the
commandments which I command you this day."

     This is not speaking of just the ten commandments, but of all the
statutes and ordinances Moses gave.

     Deuteronomy 27:2 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:

     The word "great" describing the stones is, probably, an
understatement. It is possible that there were many stones, rather
than just one huge stone. To have all of these laws and statutes
written, would take quite a large area.  The plastering them with
plaster makes a smooth place to write upon.

     Deuteronomy 27:3 "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."

     The only civil law these people will have to go by, is the law
God had given them. It would be necessary to have them written down,
so there will be no confusion about the laws. They will have to set up
a government, but it will not be like the lands around them, which
have earthly kings. Their only King is the LORD. All spiritual matters
were carried to the priests for settlement. Civil laws would be
decided by judges appointed for this purpose.

     Deuteronomy 27:4 "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."

     The Samaritan Pentateuch has Gerizim, instead of Ebal. The two
mountains were across from each other. From Ebal, the law of Moses was
recorded, and read by Joshua to the people. Joshua will have to see to
all of this, because Moses will not cross over Jordan with them.

     Deuteronomy 27:5 "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."

     Exodus 20:25 "And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou
shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon
it, thou hast polluted it."  These stones are carefully chosen and fit
together without any chisel being upon them. We find in the following
Scripture, the fulfillment of this request. Joshua 8:30  "Then Joshua
built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,"

     Deuteronomy 27:6 "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:" Deuteronomy 27:7 "And thou shalt offer peace offerings,
and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God."

     The following Scripture shows where Joshua did the very thing
Moses had commanded them to do. Joshua 8:31 "As Moses the servant of
the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the
book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man
hath lift up [any] iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto
the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings."  The burnt offerings and
the peace offering established the covenant between God and His people
in their new land. They ate in celebration of their covenant.

     Deuteronomy 27:8 "And thou shalt write upon the stones all the
words of this law very plainly."

     The main reason for the setting up of the stones with the law
written on it, was so the people could know the law themselves. The
word "plainly" is added to the writing this time. For people not
conducting worship, it might be difficult to understand, if it were
not written plainly.

     Deuteronomy 27:9  "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."

     As we said, the sacrifices at the altar established the covenant
relationship with God and His people in their land of promise. The
day, spoken of, is after they have crossed Jordan, and fulfilled
building the altar.

     Deuteronomy 27:10 "Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the
LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I
command thee this day."

     The LORD has given them their land of promise. What is their
obligation in this? Deuteronomy 10:12 "And now, Israel, what doth the
LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in
all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all
thy heart and with all thy soul," Deuteronomy 10:13 "To keep the
commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this
day for thy good?"

     Deuteronomy 27:11  "And Moses charged the people the same day,
saying,"

     The "charge", in the verse above, is like a proclamation.

     Deuteronomy 27:12 "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:"

     It appears, that Moses set 6 tribes, that are mentioned above, on
Mount Gerizim to bless the people. These tribes were all descended
from the two wives of Jacob. The following tribes were placed on Mount
Ebal to speak curses. They were descended from the maids, except for
Reuben and Zebulun, who were descended from Leah.

     Deuteronomy 27:13 "And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to
curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali."

     This really was a symbolic showing of how the blessings would
come, if they obeyed God; and just as surely the curses would come, if
they disobeyed God.

     Deuteronomy 27:14  "And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all
the men of Israel with a loud voice,"

     The Levites were the protectors of the law. They were the
spiritual leaders of the people. This was speaking of more than just
the high priest and the priests.

     Deuteronomy 27:15 "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."

     These curses are spoken of breaking the law of God. They just go
into specifics. The worst offence that can be committed is against
God. These sins are covered in the first of the ten commandments.
"Amen" means so be it. This would be saying, that they agreed to the
curse spoken, if they committed this sin.

     Deuteronomy 27:16 "Cursed [be] he that setteth light by his
father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen."

     Set light by their father and mother shows they have no respect
for them. It means they have a low opinion of them. Your father and
mother are the instruments God used to bring you life, if for no other
reason than that, you should honor them.

     Deuteronomy 27:17 "Cursed [be] he that removeth his neighbour's
landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen."

     The only reason a person would remove a landmark, would be to
steal the land. Again, this is covered in thou shalt not steal, and
also, in thou shalt not covet anything that belongs to thy neighbor.

     Deuteronomy 27:18 "Cursed [be] he that maketh the blind to wander
out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen."

     There is a physically blind person, and there is a spiritually
blind person. To cause either one of them to go out of the way, would
be very cruel. In fact, from the spiritual standpoint, we should lead
them to the Light.

     Deuteronomy 27:19 "Cursed [be] he that perverteth the judgment of
the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say,
Amen."
     This is speaking of someone influencing the judgement against
another for personal gain. It would be especially bad to take
advantage of the widow, the fatherless, or the stranger.

     Deuteronomy 27:20 "Cursed [be] he that lieth with his father's
wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people
shall say, Amen."

     Not only would he sin against his mother, or stepmother, in this,
but would bring shame upon his father, as well. This would, also,
defame the holiness of the Father in heaven.

     Deuteronomy 27:21 "Cursed [be] he that lieth with any manner of
beast. And all the people shall say, Amen."

     Many of the satanic cults today are committing this very sin.
Beastiality, many believe, is what started the A.I.D.S. epidemic. We
see, from this, anyone involved in such ungodly practise is cursed of
God.

     Deuteronomy 27:22 "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."

     This covers the terrible sin of incest in our society today. Lot
and his two daughters practiced incest. The Moabites and Ammonites
that came from that union were evil. They were the enemies of Israel
{God's chosen}.

     Deuteronomy 27:23 "Cursed [be] he that lieth with his mother in
law. And all the people shall say, Amen."

     This would shame his wife, as well as being evil in the sight of
God.

     Deuteronomy 27:24 "Cursed [be] he that smiteth his neighbour
secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen."

     Jesus said, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

     Deuteronomy 27:25 "Cursed [be] he that taketh reward to slay an
innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen."

     The man that did such a thing would be a murderer. The one who
hired him would be a murderer, too. The slang name people call them
today is {hit man}. This is premeditated murder.

     Deuteronomy 27:26 "Cursed [be] he that confirmeth not [all] the
words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen."

     The ten commandments are actually the basis for the first eleven
of these warnings. The one above is grouping them together, and giving
one final warning that God's commandments and laws must be kept.

                        Deuteronomy 29 Questions


1.  Is this just the ten commandments that Moses is speaking of in
    verse 1?
2.  Why must they be great stones?
3.  Why must they be plastered?
4.  What are they to write on them?
5.  What was the only civil law these people had?
6.  Their only King is the _________.
7.  All spiritual matters were carried to the ___________.
8.  Civil laws would be decided by _________.
9.  Where were they to set up the stones?
10. Where was mount Gerizim located?
11. Who read the law to the people?
12. What was one restriction to building the altar of stones?
13. Quote Exodus chapter 20 verse 25.
14. Who built the altar?
15. What should they do, when the altar is finished?
16. Quote Joshua chapter 8 verse 31.
17. Thou shalt write upon the stones all the Words of this law __ ___.
18. Quote Deuteronomy chapter 10 verse 12.
19. What does "charge" mean?
20. What tribes were represented on Mount Gerizim?
21. Who were these tribes descended from?
22. What tribes were represented on Mount Ebal?
23. Who speaks between the mountains?
24. Quote Deuteronomy chapter 27 verse 15.
25. What does "Amen" mean?
26. To set light by their father and mother shows they have no
    ____________ for them.
27. What two kinds of blindness are there?
28. Verse 20 is speaking of a sin against whom?
29. What terrible sin is mentioned in verse 21.
30. Who had sons by their father, and were examples of incest?
31. To take money to kill someone, is ____________ _______.
32. What is the basis for these statements Moses made here?
33. Verse 26 is doing what?