Dr. Scott Stripling is a highly regarded archaeologist who has conducted excavations at Biblical sites such as Ai and Mt. Ebal. He is currently conducting excavations at the Biblical city of Shiloh. In his work, he has made several significant discoveries, one of which is the Mt. Ebal Curse Tablet. Much to the chagrin of the secular archaeologists, Dr. Stripling and his team has found an item that strongly supports the Biblical narrative. It created such a stir, that secular archaeologists have claimed it to be anything but a Defixio (Curse Tablet). He was kind enough to record this video for us, explaining the importance of the curse tablet as well as the site in which it was found.
Photo of the Mt. Ebal Curse Tablet.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Scott Stripling.
Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all these commands that I give you today. When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over 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. And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster. Build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them. Build the altar of the Lord your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God. Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the Lord your God. And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up.”
Curses From Mount Ebal
Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God. Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.”
On the same day Moses commanded the people:
When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.
The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice:
“Cursed is anyone who makes an idol—a thing detestable to the Lord, the work of skilled hands—and sets it up in secret.”
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
“Cursed is anyone who dishonors their father or mother.”
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”…
Deuteronomy 27: 1-14
Basic rendering of the Mt. Ebal Alter.
The alter on Mt. Ebal.
Photo Courtesy of Israel Tours with www.lipkintours.com
Photo of the back side of the Mt. Ebal Alter with the Bronze Age Alter in the rear square.
Photo Courtesy of Israel Tours with www.lipkintours.com
This is an image of Gilgal Argaman. What were the Gilgal? The Bible state that there are Gilgal in different areas of Israel. At this point, five have been identified which include Argaman, Mt. Ebal, and Jerusalem. Archaeologist Adam Zertal believed that the Gilgalim were places where the Israelites gathered for ceremonial purposes. These sites are all in a footprint shape. Some believe that this was because God told the Israelites that anyplace they put their feet would be their land. Each of these sites have an area squared off that could have served as an alter.
Photo Courtesy of Israel Tours with www.lipkintours.com