Alteret og stenene med pagtens bud på Ebals bjerg
1Moses stod sammen med Israels ledere og sagde til folket:
„Husk at adlyde alle de befalinger, jeg pålægger jer i dag. 2-4Når I går over Jordanfloden og kommer ind i det land, Herren, jeres Gud, har lovet jer, et land, der ‚flyder med mælk og honning’, skal I tage nogle store sten fra floden og senere stille dem op på Ebals bjerg. Stenene skal I stryge over med kalk, og I skal skrive Herrens love i kalken. 5-7Samtidig skal I bygge et alter af utilhugne kampesten og ofre brændofre og takofre til Herren, og I skal feste og glæde jer for hans ansigt. 8Glem ikke at skrive de her love på de kalkede sten med tydelig skrift.”
9Derefter sagde Moses på præsternes vegne til hele folket: „Hør efter, Israels folk! I dag er pagten mellem jer og Herren, jeres Gud, blevet bekræftet. 10Adlyd nu alle hans befalinger, som jeg har givet jer.”
Dramaet på Ebals og Garizims bjergsider
11Samme dag sagde Moses til folket: 12„Når I er kommet over på den anden side af Jordanfloden, skal Simeons, Levis, Judas, Issakars, Josefs og Benjamins stammer stille sig op på Garizims bjergside som tegn på, at Herren vil velsigne dem, der holder sig pagten for øje, 13mens Rubens, Gads, Ashers, Zebulons, Dans og Naftalis stammer skal stille sig op på Ebals bjergside som tegn på, at Herren vil dømme dem, der vender ryggen til pagten.27,13 Ebals og Garizims bjerge er to små tvillingebjerge, hvor de, der står på det ene bjerg, har god udsigt til toppen af det andet. Fra Garizims bjerg kunne halvdelen af folket let se alteret på Ebals bjerg med de kalkede sten med lovbestemmelserne. 14Levitterne27,14 Der tænkes her sikkert på de af levitterne, som også var præster, jf. vers 9. Præsterne skulle stå ved pagtens ark imellem de to grupper af folket, jf. Jos. 8,33. skal så med høj røst erklære over for hele Israels folk:
15‚Herren afskyr afgudsdyrkelse, og han vil dømme enhver, der laver støbte eller udskårne afgudsbilleder og i al hemmelighed stiller dette menneskeværk op!’ Og folket skal svare: ‚Ja, bestemt!’
16‚Guds dom over enhver, der ringeagter sin far eller mor!’ Og folket skal svare: ‚Ja, bestemt!’
17‚Guds dom over enhver, der flytter markskellet mellem sin og sin nabos jord!’ Og folket skal svare: ‚Ja, bestemt!’
18‚Guds dom over enhver, der leder den blinde vild!’ Og folket skal svare: ‚Ja, bestemt!’
19‚Guds dom over enhver, der behandler de fremmede, enkerne eller de forældreløse uretfærdigt!’ Og folket skal svare: ‚Ja, bestemt!’
20‚Guds dom over enhver, der står i forhold til sin fars kone!’ Og folket skal svare: ‚Ja, bestemt!’
21‚Guds dom over enhver, der har seksuel omgang med dyr!’ Og folket skal svare: ‚Ja, bestemt!’
22‚Guds dom over enhver, der står i forhold til sin søster eller halvsøster!’ Og folket skal svare: ‚Ja, bestemt!’
23‚Guds dom over enhver, der står i forhold til sin svigermor!’ Og folket skal svare: ‚Ja, bestemt!’
24‚Guds dom over enhver, der med overlæg slår et andet menneske ihjel!’ Og folket skal svare: ‚Ja, bestemt!’
25‚Guds dom over enhver, der tager imod betaling for at slå et andet menneske ihjel!’ Og folket skal svare: ‚Ja, bestemt!’
26‚Guds dom over enhver, der ikke holder fast ved og handler efter ordene i denne lovbog!’ Og folket skal svare: ‚Ja, bestemt!’ ”
The Altar on Mount Ebal
1Moses and the elders of Israel gave commands to the people. They said, “Obey all the commands we’re giving you today. 2You will go across the Jordan River. You will enter the land the Lord your God is giving you. When you do, set up some large stones. Put a coat of plaster on them. 3Write all the words of this law on them. Do it when you have crossed over into the land the Lord your God is giving you. It’s a land that has plenty of milk and honey. The Lord is the God of your people of long ago. He promised you that you would enter the land. 4After you have gone across the Jordan, set up those stones on Mount Ebal. Put a coat of plaster on them. We’re commanding you today to do that. 5Build an altar there to honor the Lord your God. Make it out of stones. Don’t use any iron tool on them. 6Use stones you find in the fields to build his altar. Then offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God. 7Sacrifice friendship offerings there. Eat them and be filled with joy in the sight of the Lord your God. 8You must write all the words of this law on the stones you have set up. Write the words very clearly.”
Curses for Not Obeying the Lord
9Then Moses and the priests, who are Levites, spoke to all the Israelites. They said, “Israel, be quiet! Listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God. 10Obey him. Obey his commands and rules that we’re giving you today.”
11Here are the commands Moses gave the people that same day.
12You will go across the Jordan River. When you do, six tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people. Those tribes are Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. 13The other six tribes will stand on Mount Ebal to announce some curses. Those tribes are Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.
14The Levites will speak to all the Israelites in a loud voice. The Levites will say,
15“May anyone who makes a statue of a god and sets it up in secret be under the Lord’s curse. That statue is made by a skilled worker. And the Lord hates it.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
16“May anyone who brings shame on their father or mother be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
17“May anyone who moves their neighbor’s boundary stone be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
18“May anyone who leads blind people down the wrong road be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
19“May anyone who treats unfairly outsiders, widows, and children whose fathers have died be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
20“May anyone who sleeps with his stepmother be under the Lord’s curse. That man brings shame on his father by doing that.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
21“May anyone who has sex with animals be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
22“May anyone who sleeps with his sister be under the Lord’s curse. It doesn’t matter whether she is his full sister or his half sister.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
23“May anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
24“May anyone who kills their neighbor secretly be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
25“May anyone who accepts money to kill someone who isn’t guilty of doing anything wrong be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
26“May anyone who doesn’t honor the words of this law by obeying them be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
