After reading chapter 26:
*After they conquer the people who lived in the promised land first, and take over their property, and set up a place to worship Yahweh, the Israelites have to perform a ceremony of giving first fruits, to show Yahweh how grateful they are. The third year, they have to give the tithe to the Levites, foreigners, widows , and orphans. It is repeat info, but this time they are given specific phrases to declare.
*The chapter ends with yet another exhortation to obedience and more rhetoric about the Israelites being special snowflakes.
Chapter 27:
*Here we find a lot of redundant and superfluous phraseology telling the Israelites that after they enter the promised land they are to go up on Mount Ebal (fascinating info on Wikipedia) set up some stones, cover them with plaster, and write the words of the law on them. Then they are to build an altar of uncut stone, and have a big BBQ party (Sacrifice and feast.) After that, they are to divide up into specific tribes. Some tribes will stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses, the rest will stand on Mount Gerazim to pronounce blessings, as mentioned in previous scriptures. Now, however, the exact words for the cursings are given. After each curse, the people are to say, Amen!" The curses contain an odd collection of rules regarding conduct.
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