Memorial Stones Deuteronomy 27

Deuteronomy 27:1-3a "And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day. And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, that thou shall set thee up great stones and plaister them with plaister: And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law..."

Gradually a couple of things have been ingrained into Israel's conscienceness : 1) 'when you cross over and are on the other side' 2) the elders are brought into the picture along with Moses when commandments are made.

There should be no doubt in the minds of the children, by now, that they will cross over Jordan into the promised land. For that last many chapters, we have seen instructions for what they are to do on the other side. There is little, if any, discussion of things to do on this side of Jordan, perhaps with the exception of those who claim land there.

Also, Moses will soon be dying and the elders are given prominence in the command structure so the children of Israel will be able to make it through the transition. It will also give Joshua support when he takes command.

The instructions in this chapter are to set up rocks that are not hewn (No tools are to be used) to write the law on. It will serve as a memorial and a reminder of the ground rules on which they enter Canaan.

Then, a pronouncement is made. Since in the previous chapter we see that the people have avouched for God and God has avouched for Israel, verse 9 is declared to Israel: "And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel saying Take heed, and hearken, O Israel: this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God."

I'm a little baffled with a few verses that follow. Some of the tribes are to be blessed and some are to be cursed. If I find any explanation of this I will pass it on. I referred back to the blessings of Jacob (Israel) on his sons and found that some were to prosper while some had less glorious prospects for the future. These are found in Genesis chapter 49. These are described as prophetic in nature which leads me to think that Jacob was not making certain things happen but rather predicting them.

Then, there is the list of things a person might be cursed for. Unlike the ten commandments, the people are required to agree with each individual item as they are proclaimed. There was no doubt left as to what they should and should not do.

Psalms 34:7 "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."

keywords: milton southerland, Bible Study, Old Testament, Moses, Jordan, Israel