The Altar on Mount Ebal (Joshua 8:30–35)
1 UST Moses, along with the other Israelite leaders, said this to the people,“Obey all the commandments that I am giving to you today. BSB BSB: Then Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all the commandments I am giving you today.
2 UST Soon you will cross the Jordan River and enter the land that Yahweh, our God, promised to give to you. There, set up some large stones and cover them with plaster. BSB BSB: And on the day you cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, set up large stones and coat them with plaster.
3 UST Write on those stones all these laws and teachings, when you enter that very fertile land that Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors worshiped, promised to give to you. BSB BSB: Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you.
4 UST When you have crossed the Jordan River, set up some large stones on Mount Ebal, just as I told you, and cover them with plaster. BSB BSB: And when you have crossed the Jordan, you are to set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I am commanding you today, and you are to coat them with plaster.
5 UST And build a stone altar there to offer sacrifices to Yahweh our God, but do not do any work on those stones with iron tools. BSB BSB: Moreover, you are to build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You must not use any iron tool on them.
6 UST You must make Yahweh our God’ s alter with uncut stones. You must present wholly burnt sacrifices to him on it. BSB BSB: You shall build the altar of the LORD your God with uncut stones and offer upon it burnt offerings to the LORD your God.
7 UST You must make fellowship sacrifices to Yahweh and eat them there. You must rejoice in the presence of Yahweh our God. BSB BSB: There you are to sacrifice your peace offerings, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God.
8 UST When you write these laws on those stones, you must write them very clearly.” BSB BSB: And you shall write distinctly upon these stones all the words of this law.”
9 UST Then Moses, along with the priests descended from Levi, said to all the Israelites,“Israelites! Be quiet and listen to what I am saying! Today you have become the people who belong to Yahweh, our God. BSB BSB: Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel: “Be silent, O Israel, and listen! This day you have become the people of the LORD your God.
10 UST So you must do what he tells you, and obey all the rules and regulations that I am giving to you today.” BSB BSB: You shall therefore obey the voice of the LORD your God and follow His commandments and statutes I am giving you today.”
Curses Pronounced from Ebal 11 UST On that same day Moses said to the Israelites, BSB BSB: On that day Moses commanded the people:
12 UST “After you have crossed over the Jordan River, the tribes descended from Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin must stand on Mount Gerizim{ and request Yahweh} to bless the people. BSB BSB: “When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.
13 UST And the tribes descended from Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali must stand on Mount Ebal and listen to the{ things that Yahweh will do when he} curses{ the people}. BSB BSB: And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to deliver the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14 UST The descendants of Levi must shout these words loudly so the Israelites can hear: BSB BSB: Then the Levites shall proclaim in a loud voice to every Israelite:
16 UST ‘Yahweh will curse anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.’ And all the people must reply,‘Amen.’ BSB BSB: ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
17 UST ‘Yahweh will curse anyone who removes someone else’ s markers of property boundaries.’ And all the people must reply,‘Amen.’ BSB BSB: ‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
18 UST ‘Yahweh will curse anyone who leads a blind person to go in the wrong direction.’ And all the people must reply,‘Amen.’ BSB BSB: ‘Cursed is he who lets a blind man wander in the road.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
19 UST ‘Yahweh will curse anyone who refuses to act toward foreigners, orphans, or widows in the way that the law requires.’ And all the people must reply,‘Amen.’ BSB BSB: ‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
20 UST ‘Yahweh will curse anyone who violates his father’ s marriage rights by having sexual relations with any of his father’ s wives.’ And all the people must reply,‘Amen.’ BSB BSB: ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
21 UST ‘Yahweh will curse anyone who has sexual relations with any animal.’ And all the people must reply,‘Amen.’ BSB BSB: ‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
22 UST ‘Yahweh will curse anyone who has sexual relations with his sister or with his half- sister.’ And all the people must reply,‘Amen.’ BSB BSB: ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
23 UST ‘Yahweh will curse anyone who has sexual relations with his mother- in- law.’ And all the people must reply,‘Amen.’ BSB BSB: ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his mother-in-law.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
24 UST ‘Yahweh will curse anyone who secretly murders someone else.’ And all the people must reply,‘Amen.’ BSB BSB: ‘Cursed is he who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
25 UST ‘Yahweh will curse anyone who murders someone who is innocent because someone else has given him money or something else to do that.’ And all the people must reply,‘Amen.’ BSB BSB: ‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
26 UST ‘Yahweh will curse anyone who does not carefully obey these laws.’ And all the people must reply,‘Amen.’ BSB BSB: ‘Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.