Deuteronomy 27
Commentary from 5 fathers
And Moses and the elders of Israel commanded, saying, Keep all these commands, all that command you this day.
ΚΑΙ προσέταξε Μωυσῆς καὶ ἡ γερουσία ᾿Ισραὴλ λέγων· φυλάσσεσθε πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς ταύτας, ὅσας ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαι ὑμῖν σήμερον.
И҆ заповѣ́да мѡѷсе́й и҆ старѣ̑йшины сынѡ́въ і҆и҃левыхъ, глаго́лѧ: сохрани́те всѧ̑ за́пѡвѣди сїѧ̑, є҆ли̑ки а҆́зъ заповѣ́даю ва́мъ дне́сь.
And it shall come to pass in the day when ye shall cross over Jordan into the land which the Lord thy God gives thee, that thou shalt set up for thyself great stones, and shalt plaster them with plaster.
καὶ ἔσται ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ διαβῆτε τὸν ᾿Ιορδάνην εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἣν Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι, καὶ στήσεις σεαυτῷ λίθους μεγάλους καὶ κονιάσεις αὐτοὺς κονίᾳ
И҆ бꙋ́детъ во́ньже де́нь пре́йдете і҆ѻрда́нъ на зе́млю, ю҆́же гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ тво́й дае́тъ тебѣ̀ во жре́бїй, и҆ поста́виши себѣ̀ ка́менїе вели́ко и҆ ѡ҆бѣли́ши ѧ҆̀ мѣ́ломъ,
And thou shalt write on these stones all the words of this law, as soon as ye have crossed Jordan, when ye are entered into the land, which the Lord God of thy fathers gives thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, according as the Lord God of thy fathers said to thee.
καὶ γράψεις ἐπὶ τῶν λίθων τούτων πάντας τοὺς λόγους τοῦ νόμου τούτου, ὡς ἂν διαβῆτε τὸν ᾿Ιορδάνην, ἡνίκα ἂν εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἣν Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πατέρων σου δίδωσί σοι, γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι, ὃν τρόπον εἶπε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πατέρων σού σοι·
и҆ напи́шеши на ка́менехъ тѣ́хъ всѧ̑ словеса̀ зако́на сегѡ̀, є҆гда̀ пре́йдете і҆ѻрда́нъ, є҆гда̀ вни́дете въ зе́млю, ю҆́же гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ тво́й дае́тъ тебѣ̀, зе́млю кипѧ́щꙋю ме́домъ и҆ млеко́мъ, ꙗ҆́коже речѐ гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ ѻ҆тє́цъ твои́хъ тебѣ̀.
And it shall be as soon as ye are gone over Jordan, ye shall set up these stones, which I command thee this day, on mount Gaebal, and thou shalt plaster them with plaster.
καὶ ἔσται ὡς ἂν διαβῆτε τὸν ᾿Ιορδάνην, στήσετε τοὺς λίθους τούτους, οὓς ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον, ἐν ὄρει Γαιβὰλ καὶ κονιάσεις αὐτοὺς κονίᾳ.
И҆ бꙋ́детъ є҆гда̀ пре́йдете і҆ѻрда́нъ, да поста́вите ка́менїе сїѐ, ꙗ҆̀же а҆́зъ повелѣва́ю ва́мъ дне́сь, въ горѣ̀ гева́лъ, и҆ побѣли́ши и҆̀хъ мѣ́ломъ:
Of whole stones shalt thou build an altar to the Lord thy God, and thou shalt offer upon it whole-burnt-offerings to the Lord thy God.
λίθους ὁλοκλήρους οἰκοδομήσεις θυσιαστήριον Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ σου καὶ ἀνοίσεις ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸ ὁλοκαυτώματα Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ σου
ка́менїемъ всецѣ́лымъ да сози́ждеши ѻ҆лта́рь гдⷭ҇еви бг҃ꙋ твоемꙋ̀ и҆ вознесе́ши на не́мъ всесожжє́нїѧ гдⷭ҇еви бг҃ꙋ твоемꙋ̀,
And thou shalt there offer a peace-offering; and thou shalt eat and be filled, and rejoice before the Lord thy God.
καὶ θύσεις ἐκεῖ θυσίαν σωτηρίου καὶ φαγῇ καὶ ἐμπλησθήσῃ και εὐφρανθήσῃ ἔναντι Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου.
и҆ пожре́ши же́ртвꙋ спасе́нїѧ: и҆ ꙗ҆́си, и҆ насы́тишисѧ та́мѡ, и҆ возвесели́шисѧ пред̾ гдⷭ҇емъ бг҃омъ твои́мъ,
And thou shalt write upon the stones all this law very plainly.
καὶ γράψεις ἐπὶ τῶν λίθων πάντα τὸν νόμον τοῦτον σαφῶς σφόδρα.
и҆ напи́шеши на ка́менїихъ си́хъ ве́сь зако́нъ се́й ꙗ҆́вѣ ѕѣлѡ̀.
And Moses and the priests the Levites spoke to all Israel, saying, Be silent and hear, O Israel; this day thou art become a people to the Lord thy God.
Καὶ ἐλάλησε Μωυσῆς καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς οἱ Λευῖται παντὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ λέγοντες· σιώπα καὶ ἄκουε, ᾿Ισραήλ· ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ γέγονας εἰς λαὸν Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ σου·
И҆ глаго́ла мѡѷсе́й и҆ жерцы̀ леѵі́ти всемꙋ̀ і҆и҃лю, глаго́люще: молчѝ и҆ слы́ши, і҆и҃лю, въ де́нь се́й ста́лсѧ є҆сѝ въ лю́ди гдⷭ҇еви бг҃ꙋ твоемꙋ̀:
And thou shalt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and shalt do all his commands, and his ordinances, as many as I command thee this day.
καὶ εἰσακούσῃτῆς φωνῆς Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου καὶ ποιήσεις πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα αὐτοῦ, ὅσα ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον.
и҆ да послꙋ́шаеши гла́са гдⷭ҇а бг҃а твоегѡ̀, и҆ да сотвори́ши всѧ̑ за́пѡвѣди є҆гѡ̀ и҆ ѡ҆правда̑нїѧ є҆гѡ̀, ꙗ҆̀же а҆́зъ заповѣ́даю тебѣ̀ дне́сь.
And Moses charged the people on that day, saying,
Καὶ ἐνετείλατο Μωυσῆς τῷ λαῷ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ λέγων·
И҆ заповѣ́да мѡѷсе́й лю́демъ въ то́й де́нь, глаго́лѧ:
27:11–28:14[Daniel 9:11] "'And (the curse) has come upon us drop by drop.'" That is, Thou hast not poured out upon us all of Thy wrath, for we should not have been able to bear it, but Thou hast poured forth a mere droplet of Thy fury, in order that we might return unto Thee once we have been immeshed in Thy snare.
"'The malediction and the curse which were written in the book of Moses, the servant of God...'" In Deuteronomy we read the curses and blessings of the Lord (Deuteronomy 27:11-28:14), which were afterwards uttered in Mount Gerizim and Ebal upon the righteous and upon the sinners.
St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER NINE
These shall stand to bless the people on mount Garizin having gone over Jordan; Symeon, Levi, Judas, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.
οὗτοι στήσονται εὐλογεῖν τὸν λαὸν ἐν ὄρει Γαριζὶν διαβάντες τὸν ᾿Ιορδάνην· Συμεών, Λευί, ᾿Ιούδας, ᾿Ισσάχαρ, ᾿Ιωσὴφ καὶ Βενιαμίν.
сі́и да ста́нꙋтъ благословлѧ́ти лю́ди на горѣ̀ гарїзі́нъ, преше́дше і҆ѻрда́нъ: сѷмеѡ́нъ, леѵі́й, і҆ꙋ́да, і҆ссаха́ръ, і҆ѡ́сифъ и҆ венїамі́нъ:
And these shall stand for cursing on mount Gaebal; Ruben, Gad, and Aser, Zabulon, Dan, and Nephthali.
καὶ οὗτοι στήσονται ἐπὶ τῆς κατάρας ἐν ὄρει Γαιβάλ· Ῥουβήν, Γὰδ καὶ ᾿Ασήρ, Ζαβουλών, Δὰν καὶ Νεφθαλί.
и҆ сі́и да ста́нꙋтъ на клѧ́твꙋ на горѣ̀ гева́лъ: рꙋви́мъ, га́дъ и҆ а҆си́ръ, завꙋлѡ́нъ, да́нъ и҆ нефѳалі́мъ.
And the Levites shall answer and say to all Israel with a loud voice,
καὶ ἀποκριθέντες ἐροῦσιν οἱ Λευῖται παντὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ·
И҆ ѿвѣща́вше рекꙋ́тъ леѵі́ти всемꙋ̀ і҆и҃лю гла́сомъ вели́кимъ:
Cursed [is] the man whosoever shall make a graven or molten image, an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of craftsmen, and shall put it in a secret place: and all the people shall answer and say, So be it.
᾿Επικατάρατος ἄνθρωπος, ὅστις ποιήσει γλυπτὸν καὶ χωνευτόν, βδέλυγμα Κυρίῳ, ἔργον χειρῶν τεχνιτῶν, καὶ θήσει αὐτὸ ἐν ἀποκρύφῳ· καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἐροῦσι· γένοιτο.
про́клѧтъ человѣ́къ, и҆́же сотвори́тъ и҆зваѧ́нїе и҆ слїѧ́нїе, ме́рзость гдⷭ҇еви, дѣ́ло рꙋ́къ хꙋдо́жника, и҆ положи́тъ є҆̀ въ сокрове́нїи. И҆ ѿвѣща́вше всѝ лю́дїе рекꙋ́тъ: бꙋ́ди.
[Daniel 5:4] "They were drinking wine and praising their gods of gold, of silver, of bronze, of iron, of wood, and of stone." How great was their folly! As they drank from golden vessels, they were praising gods of wood and of stone. As long as the vessels had been in the idol-temple of Babylon, God was not moved to wrath, for they had evidently consecrated the property of God to divine worship, even though they did so in accordance with their own depraved views of religion. But after they defiled holy things for the use of men, their punishment followed upon the heels of their sacrilege. Moreover they were praising their own gods and scoffing at the God of the Jews, on the ground that they were drinking from His vessels because of the victory their own gods had bestowed upon them. Applying this figuratively, we should have to say that it applies to all the heretics or to any doctrine which is contrary to truth but which appropriates the words of the Biblical prophets and misuses the testimony of Scripture to suit its own inclination. It furnishes liquor to those whom it deceives and with whom it has committed fornication. It carries off the vessels of God's Temple and waxes drunken by quaffing them; and it does not give the praise to the God whose vessels they are, but to gods of gold and silver, of bronze, of iron, of wood, and of stone. I think that the golden ones are those which consist of earthly reason. The silver gods are those which possess the charm of eloquence and are fashioned by rhetoric. But those which bring in the fables of the poets and employ ancient traditions containing marked divergences from one another in respect to good taste or folly, such are described as bronze and iron. And those who set forth sheer absurdities are called wooden or stone. The Book of Deuteronomy divides these all into two classes, saying: "Cursed is the man who fashions a graven image and a molten image, the work of the hands of an artificer, and sets it up in a secret place" (Deuteronomy 27:15). For all heretics operate secretly and disguise their fallacious teachings, in order that they may from concealment shoot their arrows against those who are upright in heart.
St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER FIVE
Cursed is the man that dishonours his father or his mother: and all the people shall say, So be it.
ἐπικατάρατος ὁ ἀτιμάζων πατέρα αὐτοῦ ἢ μητέρα αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐροῦσι πᾶς ὁ λαός· γένοιτο.
Про́клѧтъ безче́стѧй ѻ҆тца̀ своего̀ и҆лѝ ма́терь свою̀. И҆ рекꙋ́тъ всѝ лю́дїе: бꙋ́ди.
Cursed is he that removes his neighbour’s landmarks: and all the people shall say, So be it.
ἐπικατάρατος ὁ μετατιθεὶς ὅρια τοῦ πλησίον· καὶ ἐροῦσι πᾶς ὁ λαός· γένοιτο.
Про́клѧтъ прелага́ѧй предѣ́лы бли́жнѧгѡ своегѡ̀. И҆ рекꙋ́тъ всѝ лю́дїе: бꙋ́ди.
Cursed is he that makes the blind to wander in the way: and all the people shall say, So be it.
ἐπικατάρατος ὁ πλανῶν τυφλὸν ἐν ὁδῷ· καὶ ἐροῦσι πᾶς ὁ λαός· γένοιτο.
Про́клѧтъ прельща́ѧй слѣпа́го въ пꙋтѝ. И҆ рекꙋ́тъ всѝ лю́дїе: бꙋ́ди.
This [that is, the behavior of the Gnostics] is not the behavior of those who heal and give life but rather of those who aggravate disease and increase ignorance. The law shows itself much truer than such people when it says that whoever leads a blind man astray from the way is accursed. The apostles were sent to find those who were lost and to bring sight to those who did not see and healing to the sick. They did not speak to them in accordance with their previous opinions but by a revelation of the truth. For no one would be acting rightly if one told the blind who were already beginning to fall over the precipice to continue in their dangerous way as if it were a sound one and as if they would come through all right.
Against Heresies 3.5.2
Cursed is every one that shall pervert the judgment of the stranger, and orphan, and widow: and all the people shall say, So be it.
ἐπικατάρατος ὃς ἂν ἐκκλίνῃ κρίσιν προσηλύτου καὶ ὀρφανοῦ καὶ χήρας· καὶ ἐροῦσι πᾶς ὁ λαός· γένοιτο.
Про́клѧтъ, и҆́же ᲂу҆клони́тъ сꙋ́дъ прише́льцꙋ и҆ сиротѣ̀ и҆ вдовѣ̀. И҆ рекꙋ́тъ всѝ лю́дїе: бꙋ́ди.
Cursed is he that lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s skirt: and all the people shall say, So be it.
ἐπικατάρατος ὁ κοιμώμενος μετὰ γυναικὸς τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἀπεκάλυψε συγκάλυμμα τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐροῦσι πᾶς ὁ λαός· γένοιτο.
Про́клѧтъ лежа́й съ жено́ю ѻ҆тца̀ своегѡ̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ ѿкры́лъ є҆́сть покрове́нїе ѻ҆тца̀ своегѡ̀. И҆ рекꙋ́тъ всѝ лю́дїе: бꙋ́ди.
Cursed is he that lies with any beast: and all the people shall say, So be it.
ἐπικατάρατος ὁ κοιμώμενος μετὰ παντὸς κτήνους· καὶ ἐροῦσι πᾶς ὁ λαός· γένοιτο.
Про́клѧтъ лежа́й со всѧ́кимъ ското́мъ. И҆ рекꙋ́тъ всѝ лю́дїе: бꙋ́ди.
Cursed is he that lies with his sister by his father or his mother: and all the people shall say, So be it.
ἐπικατάρατος ὁ κοιμώμενος μετὰ ἀδελφῆς ἐκ πατρὸς ἢ μητρὸς αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐροῦσι πᾶς ὁ λαός· γένοιτο.
Про́клѧтъ лежа́й съ сестро́ю свое́ю, дще́рїю ѻ҆тца̀ своегѡ̀ и҆лѝ дще́рїю ма́тере своеѧ̀. И҆ рекꙋ́тъ всѝ лю́дїе: бꙋ́ди.
Cursed is he that lies with his daughter-in-law: and all the people shall say, So be it. Cursed is he that lies with his wife’s sister: and all the people shall say, So be it.
ἐπικατάρατος ὁ κοιμώμενος μετὰ πενθερᾶς αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐροῦσι πᾶς ὁ λαός· γένοιτο. ἐπικατάρατος ὁ κοιμώμενος μετὰ τῆς ἀδελφῆς τῆς γυναικὸς αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐροῦσι πᾶς ὁ λαός· γένοιτο.
Про́клѧтъ лежа́й съ те́щею свое́ю. И҆ рекꙋ́тъ всѝ лю́дїе: бꙋ́ди. Про́клѧтъ лежа́й съ сестро́ю жены̀ своеѧ̀. И҆ рекꙋ́тъ всѝ лю́дїе: бꙋ́ди.
Cursed is he that smites his neighbour secretly: and all the people shall say, So be it.
ἐπικατάρατος ὁ τύπτων τὸν πλησίον δόλῳ· καὶ ἐροῦσι πᾶς ὁ λαός· γένοιτο.
Про́клѧтъ бїѧ́й бли́жнѧго съ ле́стїю. И҆ рекꙋ́тъ всѝ лю́дїе: бꙋ́ди.
Cursed is he whosoever shall have taken a bribe to slay an innocent man: and all the people shall say, So be it.
ἐπικατάρατος ὃς ἂν λάβῃ δῶρα πατάξαι ψυχὴν αἵματος ἀθῴου· καὶ ἐροῦσι πᾶς ὁ λαός· γένοιτο.
Про́клѧтъ, и҆́же во́зметъ да́ры порази́ти дꙋ́шꙋ кро́ве непови́нныѧ. И҆ рекꙋ́тъ всѝ лю́дїе: бꙋ́ди.
Cursed is every man that continues not in all the words of this law to do them: and all the people shall say, So be it.
ἐπικατάρατος πᾶς ἄνθρωπος ὃς οὐκ ἐμμενεῖ ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς λόγοις τοῦ νόμου τούτου ποιῆσαι αὐτούς· καὶ ἐροῦσι πᾶς ὁ λαός· γένοιτο.
Про́клѧтъ всѧ́къ человѣ́къ, и҆́же не пребꙋ́детъ во всѣ́хъ словесѣ́хъ зако́на сегѡ̀, є҆́же твори́ти ѧ҆̀. И҆ рекꙋ́тъ всѝ лю́дїе: бꙋ́ди.
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. [Deuteronomy 27:26] But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Moses was the writer of a great part of the law. Did he not add to it a threat against the transgressor or the negligent? He presents a general malediction upon all violators. This is seen in his introduction to the announcement of this most frightful penalty: “Cursed be every man that abides not in all that is written in the book of this law”; and elsewhere, “Cursed be he that does the work of the Lord negligently.” If he is accursed who does the work of the Lord negligently, what does he deserve who does not follow the law at all?
Concerning Baptism 5
And thou shalt build there an altar to the Lord thy God, an altar of stones; thou shalt not lift up iron upon it.
καὶ οἰκοδομήσεις ἐκεῖ θυσιαστήριον Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ σου, θυσιαστήριον ἐκ λίθων, οὐκ ἐπιβαλεῖς ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸ σίδηρον·
и҆ да сози́ждеши та́мѡ ѻ҆лта́рь гдⷭ҇еви бг҃ꙋ твоемꙋ̀, ѻ҆лта́рь ѿ ка́менїѧ: да не возложи́ши на ни́хъ желѣ́за: