Deuteronomy 27:14-26

Deuteronomy 27:14-26

[14] And the Levites  shall speak,  and say  unto all the men  of Israel  with a loud  voice,  [15] Cursed  be the man  that maketh  any graven  or molten image,  an abomination  unto the LORD,  the work  of the hands  of the craftsman,  and putteth  it in a secret  place. And all the people  shall answer  and say,  Amen.  [16] Cursed  be he that setteth light  by his father  or his mother.  And all the people  shall say,  Amen.  [17] Cursed  be he that removeth  his neighbour's  landmark.  And all the people  shall say,  Amen.  [18] Cursed  be he that maketh the blind  to wander  out of the way.  And all the people  shall say,  Amen.  [19] Cursed  be he that perverteth  the judgment  of the stranger,  fatherless,  and widow.  And all the people  shall say,  Amen.  [20] Cursed  be he that lieth  with his father's  wife;  because he uncovereth  his father's  skirt.  And all the people  shall say,  Amen.  [21] Cursed  be he that lieth  with any manner of beast.  And all the people  shall say,  Amen.  [22] 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.  [23] Cursed  be he that lieth  with his mother in law.  And all the people  shall say,  Amen.  [24] Cursed  be he that smiteth  his neighbour  secretly.  And all the people  shall say,  Amen.  [25] Cursed  be he that taketh  reward  to slay  an innocent  person.  And all the people  shall say,  Amen.  [26] Cursed  be he that confirmeth  not all the words  of this law  to do  them. And all the people  shall say,  Amen. 

What does Deuteronomy 27:14-26 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This is the first of two sections of curses (cf. Deuteronomy 28:15-68) that sandwich one section of blessings ( Deuteronomy 28:1-14). The present group of curses explains the consequences of disobedience to specific stipulations of the covenant whereas the second group of curses clarifies the consequences of disobedience to general stipulations of the covenant.
The twelve curses that a group of Levites was to repeat probably represented the twelve tribes. The idea was not that the practice mentioned in each curse had been a besetting sin of one of the tribes. Each tribe received a warning against disobeying the whole Mosaic Law by receiving one specific injunction. God seems to have selected the warnings somewhat at random. They dealt with idolatry ( Deuteronomy 27:15), breaches of love for one"s neighbor ( Deuteronomy 27:16-19), sexual irregularities ( Deuteronomy 27:20-23), and bodily injuries ( Deuteronomy 27:24-25).
"The matters taken up are not a neat, ordered collection; they deal with fundamental aspects of the order of Israel"s existence: the exclusive worship of the Lord, honor of parents, protection of life and property, justice for the weak and powerless, and sexual relations. These curses have often been regarded as a kind of ancient collection of laws analogous to the Ten Commandments, which have no curse expressions attached but do seem to have a sense of absoluteness implied and in other contexts are given the penalty of death." [1]
The last verse includes violation of any other command in the law ( Deuteronomy 27:26). Paul used this verse to emphasize the fact that no one can obey God perfectly ( Galatians 3:10-14). The unifying theme seems to be that these were all sins the Israelites could commit in secret. [2]