Deuteronomy 27:13

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

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}.

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

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

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

Commentary

Deuteronomy 27:13 lists six of the twelve tribes of Israel who were designated to stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses as part of a momentous covenant renewal ceremony. This solemn event, commanded by Moses, was to take place after the Israelites entered the Promised Land, serving as a powerful visual and auditory reminder of their obligations to God's law.

Context

This verse is part of a crucial covenant renewal ceremony commanded by Moses just before the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into Canaan. The entire nation was to gather between two prominent mountains near Shechem: Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. The Levites were to read the specific blessings and curses associated with obedience and disobedience to the Law of God, with half the tribes positioned on Mount Gerizim to affirm the blessings (listed in Deuteronomy 27:12) and the other half on Mount Ebal to affirm the curses. The tribes listed here — Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali — were assigned to Mount Ebal, a stark, barren mountain, visually reinforcing the severity of the curses.

Key Themes

  • Covenant Accountability: The division of the tribes and the public declaration of curses underscored the serious nature of Israel's covenant relationship with God. It was a corporate act of commitment, binding the entire nation to the stipulations of the Law.
  • The Gravity of Disobedience: Mount Ebal, often described as rugged and barren, served as a stark visual metaphor for the consequences of turning away from God's commands. The pronouncement of curses was not merely a threat but a solemn warning of the inevitable outcomes of rebellion.
  • The Immutability of God's Word: This ceremony emphasized that God's law carries inherent authority and consequences. The blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience were not arbitrary but integral to the covenant relationship, demonstrating God's justice and faithfulness to His word.

Linguistic Insights

The name Ebal (Hebrew: 'Eyval) is thought to mean "stone" or "bare mountain," fitting its geological characteristics. This contrasts sharply with Mount Gerizim, which was more fertile, symbolizing the contrast between blessing and curse. The act of "cursing" (Hebrew: qelalah) implies a declaration of divine judgment or an invocation of ill upon those who break the covenant. It was a public, communal affirmation of the consequences for violating God's holy standards.

Significance and Application

Deuteronomy 27:13, as part of this pivotal ceremony, highlights several enduring truths:

  • The Seriousness of God's Commands: God's instructions are not suggestions; they carry weight and consequences. While believers in Christ are under grace, the principle that actions have consequences and that God's moral law is just remains.
  • The Choice Before Humanity: This ceremony powerfully illustrated the fundamental choice presented to Israel, and by extension, to all humanity: to obey God and experience life and blessing, or to disobey and face the consequences. This echoes the sentiment found in Deuteronomy 30:19, "choose life."
  • Community Responsibility: The involvement of all tribes in this public declaration underscores that covenant keeping is a communal responsibility. The spiritual health and well-being of a community are often tied to its collective adherence to God's principles.

This verse reminds us that walking with God requires a sober understanding of His expectations and the solemnity of His covenant, whether it be the Old Covenant with Israel or the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ.

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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 27:4 (3 votes)

    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 plaister them with plaister.

  • Genesis 30:20 (2 votes)

    And Leah said, God hath endued me [with] a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

  • Genesis 49:3 (2 votes)

    Reuben, thou [art] my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

  • Genesis 49:4 (2 votes)

    Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou [it]: he went up to my couch.

  • Genesis 29:32 (2 votes)

    And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

  • Joshua 8:33 (2 votes)

    And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.

  • Genesis 30:6 (2 votes)

    And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.