וַיְצַ֤ו מֹשֶׁה֙ וְזִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶת־הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר שָׁמֹר֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַמִּצְוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּֽוֹם׃

Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people. The overall responsibility for the ceremony will be passed to Joshua, the next leader of the people. Nevertheless, due to the organizational aspects of the ceremony, the elders of Israel are also involved, and were presumably placed in charge of their tribes’ part in the ceremony. They commanded the people, saying: Observe the entire commandment, all the details of the subsequent commandments, that I am commanding you today.

וְהָיָ֗ה בַּיּוֹם֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּעַבְר֣וּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ אֶל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֣ן לָ֑ךְ וַהֲקֵמֹתָ֤ לְךָ֙ אֲבָנִ֣ים גְּדֹל֔וֹת וְשַׂדְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם בַּשִּֽׂיד׃

It shall be on the day that you will cross the Jordan to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall erect for you great stones, and plaster them with lime, so that they will be smooth and form a suitable writing surface.

וְכָתַבְתָּ֣ עֲלֵיהֶ֗ן אֶֽת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֛י הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את בְּעָבְרֶ֑ךָ לְמַ֡עַן אֲשֶׁר֩ תָּבֹ֨א אֶל־הָאָ֜רֶץ אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֣יךָ ׀ נֹתֵ֣ן לְךָ֗ אֶ֣רֶץ זָבַ֤ת חָלָב֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֛ר יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־אֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ לָֽךְ׃

You shall write on them all the words of this Torah, upon your crossing the Jordan River, so that you will come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, God of your fathers, spoke to you.

וְהָיָה֮ בְּעָבְרְכֶ֣ם אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ תָּקִ֜ימוּ אֶת־הָאֲבָנִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֜י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֛ם הַיּ֖וֹם בְּהַ֣ר עֵיבָ֑ל וְשַׂדְתָּ֥ אוֹתָ֖ם בַּשִּֽׂיד׃

It shall be upon your crossing of the Jordan, you shall erect these stones that I am commanding you today on Mount Eival, and you shall plaster them with lime.

וּבָנִ֤יתָ שָּׁם֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ מִזְבַּ֣ח אֲבָנִ֔ים לֹא־תָנִ֥יף עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם בַּרְזֶֽל׃

You shall build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar

אֲבָנִ֤ים שְׁלֵמוֹת֙ תִּבְנֶ֔ה אֶת־מִזְבַּ֖ח יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ וְהַעֲלִ֤יתָ עָלָיו֙ עוֹלֹ֔ת לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

Of whole stones you shall build the altar of the Lord your God, as it is prohibited to chisel stones with iron implements for use in the construction of an altar. And you shall offer up on it burnt offerings to the Lord your God.

וְזָבַחְתָּ֥ שְׁלָמִ֖ים וְאָכַ֣לְתָּ שָּׁ֑ם וְשָׂ֣מַחְתָּ֔ לִפְנֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

In addition, you shall slaughter peace offerings, and you shall eat them there, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God through this public feast.

וְכָתַבְתָּ֣ עַל־הָאֲבָנִ֗ים אֶֽת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֛י הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את בַּאֵ֥ר הֵיטֵֽב׃ (ס)

You shall write on the stones all the words of this Torah, which until now were written only on the Tablets of the Covenant and in the Torah scroll. You shall ensure that the writing is very clearly readable by all and properly elucidated.

וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים הַלְוִיִּ֔ם אֶ֥ל כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר הַסְכֵּ֤ת ׀ וּשְׁמַע֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ נִהְיֵ֣יתָֽ לְעָ֔ם לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

Moses and the priests, who are from the tribe of the Levites, spoke to all Israel, saying: Listen and heed, Israel, this day you have become a people for the Lord your God.

וְשָׁ֣מַעְתָּ֔ בְּק֖וֹל יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ אֶת־מִצְוֺתָו֙ וְאֶת־חֻקָּ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּֽוֹם׃ (ס)

Therefore, the following is required of you: You shall heed the voice of the Lord your God, and you shall perform His commandments and His statutes that I am commanding you today. This covenant is enacted with the entire people now, before they enter the land of Canaan. The same covenant will be reaffirmed by the people after they enter the land.

וַיְצַ֤ו מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא לֵאמֹֽר׃

Moses commanded the people on that day, saying:

אֵ֠לֶּה יַֽעַמְד֞וּ לְבָרֵ֤ךְ אֶת־הָעָם֙ עַל־הַ֣ר גְּרִזִ֔ים בְּעָבְרְכֶ֖ם אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן שִׁמְעוֹן֙ וְלֵוִ֣י וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר וְיוֹסֵ֥ף וּבִנְיָמִֽן׃

These tribes shall stand to bless the people upon Mount Gerizim upon your crossing of the Jordan: Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin. It is possible that these tribes were selected because they were considered the more distinguished tribes, as they are the sons of Leah and Rachel.

וְאֵ֛לֶּה יַֽעַמְד֥וּ עַל־הַקְּלָלָ֖ה בְּהַ֣ר עֵיבָ֑ל רְאוּבֵן֙ גָּ֣ד וְאָשֵׁ֔ר וּזְבוּלֻ֖ן דָּ֥ן וְנַפְתָּלִֽי׃

And these shall stand for the curse upon Mount Eival : Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

וְעָנ֣וּ הַלְוִיִּ֗ם וְאָֽמְר֛וּ אֶל־כָּל־אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל ק֥וֹל רָֽם׃ (ס)

The Levites, who shall stand between the two mountains, shall proclaim the following curses and their parallel blessings, and say them to every man of Israel in a loud voice. When the Levites recited the blessings, they turned toward Mount Gerizim and faced the tribes that stood there, and when they recited the curses they turned toward Mount Eival and faced the tribes that stood on that mountain. According to a different opinion, the Levites also stood on the mountains, and if that is the case, the blessings and curses were recited by people who stood on the mountains themselves:

אָר֣וּר הָאִ֡ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַעֲשֶׂה֩ פֶ֨סֶל וּמַסֵּכָ֜ה תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְהוָ֗ה מַעֲשֵׂ֛ה יְדֵ֥י חָרָ֖שׁ וְשָׂ֣ם בַּסָּ֑תֶר וְעָנ֧וּ כָל־הָעָ֛ם וְאָמְר֖וּ אָמֵֽן׃ (ס)

The following eleven curses do not pertain to those prohibitions which are of the greatest severity; neither do they include fundamental precepts such as those which appear in the Ten Precepts. Rather, the curses pertain to those transgressions that are performed in secret. Since the transgressors assume that their deeds will not be discovered, the people must publicly take an oath not to perform these actions. For example, the focus of the first curse is not the prohibition against crafting a molten image in itself, but the secretive worship of idolatry. If any Jew openly worships idols, the court is obligated to eliminate him from among the people. However, if one conceals his idolatrous worship, no one is aware of his deeds, and therefore, the public oath is necessary. The Levites shall proclaim: Cursed is the man who makes an idol or a cast figure, an abomination of the Lord, an idol which is the handiwork of a craftsman, and places it in secret. And upon hearing this curse, the entire people, both the tribes standing on Mount Eival for the curse and those standing on Mount Gerizim for the blessing, shall answer and say: Amen, thereby taking an oath not to perform this transgression.

אָר֕וּר מַקְלֶ֥ה אָבִ֖יו וְאִמּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ (ס)

Once the people accept the first curse and its parallel blessing, the Levites recite the second curse: Cursed is one who demeans his father or his mother, and the entire people shall say: Amen. One who acts in this manner does not publicize his behavior, and his parents are likely to be reluctant to discuss it as well, particularly if they need him or are dependent upon him. The matter therefore remains a family secret. This curse also pertains to cases in which even one’s parents are unaware of their son’s behavior, e.g., when a son avoids his filial duty to honor his parents by means of deceit and false pretenses.

אָר֕וּר מַסִּ֖יג גְּב֣וּל רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ (ס)

Cursed is one who moves his neighbor’s boundary into his neighbor’s domain, thereby extending his own domain. This is obviously done in secret, based on the assumption that one’s neighbor will not notice the change. The Sages include in this prohibition any incursion into another’s domain or encroachment on an area under another’s authority that is performed in a covert or deceitful manner. And the entire people shall say: Amen.

אָר֕וּר מַשְׁגֶּ֥ה עִוֵּ֖ר בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ (ס)

Cursed is one who misleads the blind on the way, and the entire people shall say: Amen. This curse evokes the prohibition, “You shall not place an obstruction before the blind.” It applies to anyone who misleads others by giving them bad advice, even if they are not blind but merely lack necessary information and may make an erroneous decision on the basis of the advice that they were given. In this case, the victim is unaware that he is being misled, and the responsibility is entirely upon the one who gave the advice. Therefore, a public oath is required.

אָר֗וּר מַטֶּ֛ה מִשְׁפַּ֥ט גֵּר־יָת֖וֹם וְאַלְמָנָ֑ה וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ (ס)

Cursed is one who distorts the judgment of a stranger, an orphan, or a widow, and the entire people shall say: Amen. These individuals are not always aware of the fact that their judgment has been distorted. The stranger might be unfamiliar with local laws and customs, the orphan is young and inexperienced, and the widow, accustomed to being under the aegis of her husband, would not typically be familiar with legal and procedural matters. Therefore, it is often a simple matter for the judges to distort their judgment without the matter coming to light.

אָר֗וּר שֹׁכֵב֙ עִם־אֵ֣שֶׁת אָבִ֔יו כִּ֥י גִלָּ֖ה כְּנַ֣ף אָבִ֑יו וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ (ס)

The forbidden sexual relations mentioned below are also those that are likely to be committed in private, concealed from public view, due to the structure of society. Cursed is one who lies with the wife of his father, even after his father’s death. The widow might live alone in her deceased husband’s house, while his adult son abuses her and she has no means of objecting, or they might both consent to the act. He is cursed as he thereby exposed the edge of his father’s garment, shaming his father’s nakedness, and the entire people shall say: Amen.

אָר֕וּר שֹׁכֵ֖ב עִם־כָּל־בְּהֵמָ֑ה וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ (ס)

Cursed is one who lies with any beast, and the entire people shall say: Amen. This transgression would probably remain unknown as well, as the man himself would not report it, and the animal is of course unable to object.

אָר֗וּר שֹׁכֵב֙ עִם־אֲחֹת֔וֹ בַּת־אָבִ֖יו א֣וֹ בַת־אִמּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ (ס)

Cursed is one who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother, and the entire people shall say: Amen. An adult brother might use his authority and power to abuse his minor sister and prevent her from objecting and publicizing the matter. For this reason, the transgression can remain unknown to others, sometimes for many years.

אָר֕וּר שֹׁכֵ֖ב עִם־חֹֽתַנְתּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ (ס)

Cursed is one who lies with his mother-in-law, whether or not she is married. This severe transgression also shames the family. In this case the extent of their kinship might not be sufficient to deter them from the act, but they are close enough to develop an intimate relationship, and the affair would not be publicized. And the entire people shall say: Amen.

אָר֕וּר מַכֵּ֥ה רֵעֵ֖הוּ בַּסָּ֑תֶר וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ (ס)

Cursed is one who smites his neighbor in secret, by attacking

אָרוּר֙ לֹקֵ֣חַ שֹׁ֔חַד לְהַכּ֥וֹת נֶ֖פֶשׁ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֑י וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ (ס)

Cursed is one who takes a bribe to slay a person of innocent blood, and the entire people shall say: Amen. Neither the party who gives the bribe nor the one who accepts it is likely to publicize his actions. A judge who begins by accepting a bribe in relatively minor monetary cases is liable to deviate from the path of justice in cases involving large inheritances as well. Eventually, he is liable to be swayed through bribery to even cause a person’s death.

אָר֗וּר אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹא־יָקִ֛ים אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַתּוֹרָֽה־הַזֹּ֖את לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֑ם וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ (פ)

The list concludes with a general curse: Cursed is one who will not uphold the matters of this Torah to perform them. Cursed is one who fails to do all that is in his power to ensure that the matters of this Torah, written before you on the stones (27:8), will be upheld. And the entire people shall say: Amen. The entire people of Israel thereby publicly committed to uphold the Torah: Each person must do his part in order to ensure that the Torah’s commandments are fulfilled. The Sages therefore state that even if one studied the Torah and taught it to others, observed the Torah and performed its commandments, if he was able to support and bolster the Torah and he did not do so, he is included in this curse.