Some Old Testament stories catch the modern reader off guard. The "Curses From Mount Ebal" passage from Deuteronomy 27 definitely fits in that category. Why the curses? And what exactly are these curses? Are they a reference to the natural consequences of bad behavior (kind of like a proverb) or do they actually refer to something in the spiritual realm? And how does Deuteronomy 21 relate to this passage?