Immerse: Beginnings Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 322
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IMMERSE
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BEGINNINGS
26:16–27:15
“Today the Lord your God has commanded you to obey all these decrees and regulations. So be careful to obey them wholeheartedly. You
have declared today that the Lord is your God. And you have promised
to walk in his ways, and to obey his decrees, commands, and regulations,
and to do everything he tells you. The Lord has declared today that you
are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you
must obey all his commands. And if you do, he will set you high above all
the other nations he has made. Then you will receive praise, honor, and
renown. You will be a nation that is holy to the Lord your God, just as
he promised.”
Then Moses and the leaders of Israel gave this charge to the people: “Obey
all these commands that I am giving you today. When you cross the Jordan
River and enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some
large stones and coat them with plaster. Write this whole body of instruction on them when you cross the river to enter the land the Lord your
God is giving you—a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord,
the God of your ancestors, promised you. When you cross the Jordan, set
up these stones at Mount Ebal and coat them with plaster, as I am commanding you today.
“Then build an altar there to the Lord your God, using natural, uncut
stones. You must not shape the stones with an iron tool. Build the altar of
uncut stones, and use it to offer burnt offerings to the Lord your God.
Also sacrifice peace offerings on it, and celebrate by feasting there before
the Lord your God. You must clearly write all these instructions on the
stones coated with plaster.”
Then Moses and the Levitical priests addressed all Israel as follows:
“O Israel, be quiet and listen! Today you have become the people of the
Lord your God. So you must obey the Lord your God by keeping all
these commands and decrees that I am giving you today.”
That same day Moses also gave this charge to the people: “When you cross
the Jordan River, the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and
Benjamin must stand on Mount Gerizim to proclaim a blessing over the
people. And the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali
must stand on Mount Ebal to proclaim a curse.
“Then the Levites will shout to all the people of Israel:
‘Cursed is anyone who carves or casts an idol and secretly sets it up.
These idols, the work of craftsmen, are detestable to the Lord.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
