Deuteronomy 27:15

"Cursed be the man that maketh a graven or molten image, an abomination unto Jehovah, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and setteth it up in secret. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

"Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

"Cursed be he that moveth his neighbor's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.

"Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.

"Cursed be he that wresteth the justice due to the sojourner, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.

"Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife, because he hath uncovered his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

"Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.

"Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

"Cursed be he that lieth with his mother-in-law. And all the people shall say, Amen.

"Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbor in secret. And all the people shall say, Amen.

"Cursed be he that taketh a bribe to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.

"Cursed be he that confirmeth not the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen."

Note that there are exactly twelve of these regulations, one for each of the twelve tribes, and strongly suggesting the symbolical nature of the laws here cited. These should not be understood as exclusive, but as symbolical of all of God's laws, as surely indicated by Deuteronomy 27:26. Remember, this was a ceremony, but regardless of specific segments of it, all of God's law is in view throughout.

Searching for some kind of a pattern in the list, we find that most of the things mentioned here would have been secret violations of God's law. Some of them, however, do not fall into such a classification. It is also obvious that several of these relate directly to the Decalogue itself.

The big surprise is that the blessings are not here enumerated. Keil thought it was unnecessary to specify the blessings, since, "It is easy to single out the corresponding blessings,"[24] the same being the opposite of the violations mentioned along with the curses. Thus, the blessing would pertain to him that "honors father and mother." and the curse pertained to him who did not do so. Also, there are blessing in large numbers before this ceremony is completed.

We have already made full comment on each one of the stipulations here mentioned with respect to the curses, under the references where each occurs in previous portions of the Bible. "Each of the first eleven curses here is directed against some particular sin already denounced in the Law; and the twelfth is directed generally against all breaches of the Law.[25] This, coupled with the fact of there being exactly twelve of these, corresponding to the twelve tribes, "shows that they were selected by way of specimens."[26] We might say, that as they stand here, they are symbolical indications of the entire Law of Moses. The repetition of the phrase, "all the words of this law," a number of times in the chapter is further proof of this.

Here is a checklist for where these forbidden things are previously mentioned, and where additional comment is available:

<MONO>

Deuteronomy 27:15 ... Exodus 20:4; Leviticus 26:1

Deuteronomy 27:16 ... Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9

Deuteronomy 27:17 ... Deuteronomy 19:14

Deuteronomy 27:18 ... Leviticus 19:14

Deuteronomy 27:19 ... Exodus 22:21-23; 23:3; Deuteronomy 24:17

Deuteronomy 27:20 ... Leviticus 18:8; Deuteronomy 22:30

Deuteronomy 27:21 ... Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 18:23; 20:15

Deuteronomy 27:22 ... Leviticus 18:9,17

Deuteronomy 27:23 ... Leviticus 18:9,17

Deuteronomy 27:24 ... Exodus 21:12; 20:13; Numbers 35:16

Deuteronomy 27:25 ... Exodus 23:7,8

Deuteronomy 27:26 ... Deuteronomy 28:15MONO>

Watts suggested that the appearance of a number of forbidden actions here which would normally be indulged secretly indicates that, "God sees all things, even those in the secret places of the heart."[27]

Joshua, the faithful leader who followed Moses, dutifully carried out the orders which Moses delivered here; and the account of that obedience is in Joshua 8:30-35.