Devarim (Deuteronomy): Ki Tavo > Ch 27

When you come to the Promised Land, you shall set up huge stones and write the entire Torah on them. And you shall build an altar to the Lord out of whole stones.

  • And Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Observe all of the commandment that I command you this day. And it will be, on the day that you cross the Jordan to the land the Lord, your G-d, is giving you, that you shall set up for yourself huge stones, and plaster them with lime. When you cross, you shall write upon them all the words of this Torah, in order that you may come to the land which the Lord, your G-d, is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, G-d of your forefathers, has spoken to you. And it will be, when you cross the Jordan, that you shall set up these stones, [regarding] which I command you this day on Mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with lime. And there, you shall build an altar to the Lord, your G-d, an altar of stones. You shall not wield any iron upon them. You shall build the altar of the Lord, your G-d, out of whole stones. And on it, you shall offer up burnt offerings to the Lord, your G-d. And you shall slaughter peace offerings, and you shall eat there, and you shall rejoice before the Lord, your G-d. You shall write upon the stones all the words of this Torah, very clearly.


When you cross the Jordan, the following shall stand upon Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. And the following shall stand upon Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naftali.

  • Moses and the Levitic priests spoke to all Israel, saying, "Pay attention and listen, O Israel! This day, you have become a people to the Lord, your G-d. You shall therefore obey the Lord, your G-d, and fulfill His commandments and His statutes, which I command you this day. And Moses commanded the people on that day, saying, When you cross the Jordan, the following shall stand upon Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. And the following shall stand upon Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naftali.


12 curses given by the Levites

  • The Levites shall speak up, saying to every individual of Israel, in a loud voice:
  • Cursed be the man who makes any graven or molten image an abomination to the Lord, the handiwork of a craftsman and sets it up in secret!
    And all the people shall respond, saying, 'Amen!'

  • Cursed be he who degrades his father and mother.
    And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

  • Cursed be he who moves back his neighbor's landmark.
    And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

  • Cursed be he who misguides a blind person on the way.
    And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

  • Cursed be he who perverts the judgment of the stranger, the orphan, or the widow.
    And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

  • Cursed be he who lies with his father's wife, thus uncovering the corner of his father's garment. And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

  • Cursed be he who lies with any animal.
    And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

  • Cursed be he who lies with his sister, his father's daughter or his mother's daughter.
    And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

  • Cursed be he who lies with his mother in law.
    And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

  • Cursed be he who strikes his fellow in secret.
    And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

  • Cursed be he who takes a bribe to put an innocent person to death.
    And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

  • Cursed be he who does not uphold the words of this Torah, to fulfill them.
    And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'