Deuteronomy 27:13

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

while these are to stand on Mount 'Eival for the curse: Re'uven, Gad, Asher, Z'vulun, Dan and Naftali.

Berean Standard Bible

And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to deliver the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 27:13 lists six of the twelve tribes of Israel—Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali—who were designated to stand upon Mount Ebal. Their solemn charge was to pronounce the curses associated with disobedience to God's covenant law during a momentous national ceremony. This event, commanded by Moses, underscored the gravity of Israel's obligations to the Lord and the severe consequences of rebellion, serving as a powerful, public affirmation of their commitment to the divine stipulations before entering the Promised Land.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within a pivotal section of Deuteronomy (chapters 27-30) that outlines the covenant renewal ceremony to be performed upon Israel's entry into the Promised Land. Specifically, [Deuteronomy 27:11-26](/deuteronomy/27-11 "Deuteronomy 27:11-26 - The Curses on Mount Ebal") details the instructions for this grand assembly between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. Moses commands that six tribes stand on Mount Gerizim to pronounce blessings ([Deuteronomy 27:12](/deuteronomy/27-12 "Deuteronomy 27:12 - Tribes for Blessings on Mount Gerizim")), while the other six, including those listed in verse 13, stand on Mount Ebal to declare curses. The Levites were to lead the pronouncements, with the entire nation responding with "Amen," signifying their corporate agreement and accountability to the Law. This ceremony serves as a climactic reaffirmation of the Mosaic Covenant before the conquest of Canaan.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The practice of public covenant ratification ceremonies was common in the Ancient Near East (ANE), where treaties between suzerains (overlords) and vassals (subordinates) often included lists of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Israel's covenant with Yahweh, however, was unique in its monotheistic foundation and moral depth. The chosen location, near Shechem, was strategically significant, being an ancient and central site in Canaan, rich with patriarchal history (e.g., [Genesis 12:6](/genesis/12-6 "Genesis 12:6 - Abram at Shechem")). Mount Ebal, often described as rugged and barren, stood in stark contrast to the more fertile Mount Gerizim, visually reinforcing the dichotomy between the consequences of covenant faithfulness and rebellion. This public, communal declaration was designed to impress upon the entire nation the binding nature of their relationship with God.

* **Key Themes:** Deuteronomy 27:13 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch. It powerfully illustrates the theme of **Covenant Accountability**, emphasizing that Israel's relationship with God was conditional upon their obedience to His Law. The division of the tribes and the public pronouncement of both blessings and curses underscore the **Gravity of Disobedience** and the inevitable consequences of straying from God's commands, echoing the foundational choice presented in [Deuteronomy 30:19](/deuteronomy/30-19 "Deuteronomy 30:19 - Choose Life or Death"). Furthermore, the ceremony highlights the **Immutability of God's Word** and the inherent justice of His character; His laws are not arbitrary, but carry intrinsic authority and consequences, demonstrating His faithfulness to His declared standards. This corporate act also reinforces the theme of **Communal Responsibility**, as the entire nation was bound together in their commitment to the covenant.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ebal (Hebrew, _'Eyval'_):** This mountain, located in the central hill country of Canaan, is thought to derive its name from a root meaning "stone" or "bare mountain." Its rugged, desolate appearance stood in stark symbolic contrast to the more fertile Mount Gerizim. This visual distinction powerfully underscored the nature of the curses pronounced from its slopes—barrenness, hardship, and divine judgment—as opposed to the blessings of fruitfulness and prosperity associated with Gerizim. The name itself, therefore, conveyed an immediate sense of the severe consequences of disobedience.
* **Curse (Hebrew, _qelalah'_):** The act of "cursing" here is not merely a human expression of ill will, but a solemn, public declaration of divine judgment and the invocation of negative consequences upon those who violate the covenant. In the context of ancient treaties, curses were an integral part of the covenant stipulations, designed to deter disloyalty. For Israel, these curses were a divine guarantee that rebellion against God's holy standards would inevitably lead to severe, divinely ordained repercussions, including disease, famine, defeat, and ultimately, exile. It was a communal affirmation of the absolute seriousness of God's Law.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse;":** This clause identifies the specific role and location of the six tribes. "These" refers to the tribes listed immediately after. Their posture of "standing" suggests a public, authoritative, and formal participation in the ceremony. Mount Ebal is explicitly designated as the place for the pronouncement of curses, establishing a clear symbolic link between the barren mountain and the dire consequences of covenant breaking. The purpose, "to curse," denotes their active role in affirming the divine judgments against disobedience, making them co-witnesses and participants in the covenant's solemn stipulations.
* **"Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.":** This enumeration specifies the six tribes assigned to Mount Ebal. While the precise rationale for this particular grouping (as opposed to the six on Gerizim in [Deuteronomy 27:12](/deuteronomy/27-12 "Deuteronomy 27:12 - Tribes for Blessings on Mount Gerizim")) is not explicitly stated in the text, it represents a corporate division of the nation. These tribes, as representatives of the whole, bore witness to and affirmed the curses, signifying that the entire nation was accountable for upholding the covenant, and that the consequences of disobedience would affect all. Their presence ensured that the solemnity of the occasion and the gravity of the curses were impressed upon every segment of Israel.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 27:13, as part of the larger covenant ceremony, employs several potent literary devices. **Symbolism** is paramount, with Mount Ebal serving as a stark symbol of judgment, desolation, and the consequences of disobedience. Its barrenness visually reinforces the spiritual barrenness and hardship that would result from breaking the covenant. This is powerfully contrasted with the implied symbolism of Mount Gerizim (where blessings were pronounced), which was known for its fertility, representing life and prosperity. The entire ceremony utilizes **Antithesis** or **Contrast**, juxtaposing blessings and curses, obedience and disobedience, life and death, thereby highlighting the fundamental choice before Israel. The **Enumeration** of the tribes provides a detailed and concrete representation of the entire nation's involvement, emphasizing the corporate nature of the covenant. Furthermore, the command for the tribes to "stand" implies a formal, public **Ritualistic Performance**, designed to create a lasting impression and underscore the binding nature of the covenant through a memorable, participatory act.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 27:13, by assigning specific tribes to pronounce curses, powerfully underscores the unyielding nature of God's holiness and the absolute seriousness of sin. It reveals a God who is not indifferent to human conduct but who has established a moral order with inherent consequences. The curses are not arbitrary threats but a divine declaration of the just outcomes for a people who would willfully reject the covenant of their loving God. This passage reminds us that while God is merciful, He is also righteous, and His justice demands a response to rebellion. It highlights the profound truth that actions have consequences, a principle woven into the fabric of creation and redemption. The ceremony at Ebal served as a perpetual reminder to Israel that their flourishing was inextricably linked to their faithfulness, and that spiritual rebellion would inevitably lead to a withdrawal of divine favor and protection.

* [Deuteronomy 30:19](/deuteronomy/30-19 "Deuteronomy 30:19 - Choose Life or Death")
* [Galatians 3:10](/galatians/3-10 "Galatians 3:10 - Under the Curse of the Law")
* [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin is Death")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The solemn scene on Mount Ebal, with tribes publicly affirming curses, serves as a profound reminder of the gravity of our choices and the unchanging nature of God's moral law. While believers in Christ are no longer under the condemnation of the law, the principles of God's holiness and the seriousness of sin remain eternally true. This passage calls us to a sober reflection on the consequences of disobedience, not as a means to earn salvation, but as an understanding of the divine order. It compels us to recognize that spiritual rebellion, whether individual or corporate, carries real, often painful, consequences in this life, even for those under grace. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of communal accountability within the body of Christ, reminding us that our collective faithfulness impacts our shared spiritual health and witness. We are called to a corporate "Amen" to God's truth, embracing His commands not out of fear of curses, but out of love for the One who redeemed us from them.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the solemnity of the Mount Ebal ceremony inform our understanding of God's holiness and the gravity of sin in our lives today?**
* **In what ways do we, as individuals or as a community of faith, need to acknowledge and respond to the "curses" (i.e., the natural consequences or divine discipline) of disobedience in our contemporary context?**
* **How does this passage highlight the importance of communal accountability and shared commitment within the body of Christ, and how can we better embody this in our churches?**

### FAQ

**Why were these specific tribes chosen for Mount Ebal, and others for Mount Gerizim?**

Answer: The biblical text in Deuteronomy does not explicitly state the precise criteria for the division of the tribes between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. Various theories have been proposed by scholars, including: geographical proximity of their future tribal allotments to the mountains, the maternal lineage of their founders (e.g., some suggest tribes descended from Leah's sons were on Gerizim, while those from Rachel, Bilhah, and Zilpah were on Ebal, though this is not perfectly consistent), or simply for the purpose of an even numerical division to represent the whole nation. The key emphasis of the passage is not *why* these specific tribes were chosen, but *that* the entire nation, represented by these two groups, corporately participated in affirming the covenant's blessings and curses. This ensured that every segment of Israel bore witness to and assented to the covenant stipulations.

**Was this ceremony actually performed by the Israelites?**

Answer: Yes, the Bible records that this momentous ceremony was indeed performed by the Israelites after they entered the Promised Land, under the leadership of Joshua. [Joshua 8:30-35](/joshua/8-30 "Joshua 8:30-35 - The Mount Ebal and Gerizim Ceremony Performed") explicitly describes Joshua building an altar on Mount Ebal, writing a copy of the Law on stones, and then assembling all Israel, with their elders, officers, and judges, for the blessing and cursing ceremony, just as Moses had commanded in Deuteronomy. This historical fulfillment underscores the importance of the covenant and Israel's initial commitment to its terms upon entering the land.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The solemn pronouncement of curses from Mount Ebal, affirmed by the tribes of Israel, vividly portrays humanity's dire predicament under the Law. The Law, holy and just, reveals sin and brings a curse upon all who fail to perfectly keep its every command, as [Galatians 3:10](/galatians/3-10 "Galatians 3:10 - Under the Curse of the Law") declares. This Old Covenant ceremony, therefore, foreshadows the ultimate need for a deliverer from the curse. Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, stands as the fulfillment of this profound theological tension. He did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")). More profoundly, He became the curse for us, taking upon Himself the full weight of divine judgment that Mount Ebal symbolized. As [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse") proclaims, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us." Through His crucifixion, Jesus bore the just consequences of humanity's rebellion, allowing those who believe in Him to receive the blessing of Abraham and the promised Spirit ([Galatians 3:14](/galatians/3-14 "Galatians 3:14 - That We Might Receive the Promise of the Spirit")). Thus, the terrifying pronouncements from Mount Ebal find their ultimate resolution and reversal in the person and work of Christ, who transforms the curse into eternal blessing for all who trust in His finished work.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.