Why Me?

Preface IV

[Ebal, four of thirty]

Why should I attempt to tackle Ebal’s enigmas? The short answer is that I have experience with an appropriate tool for the issue at hand. That is summary judgment.

This is my fourth prefacing post of a memorandum arguing this: The proposed Joshua’s Altar warrants posthaste excavation; otherwise, historical evidence of incalculable value risks generational inscrutability or destructive ruin. This post tells why I deserve your attention on this matter.

If you wish to read my memorandum from the beginning, click here.

For a definitive opinion on this matter, one would likely at first blush consider a panel of archaeologists, epigraphers, and experts in tomography, computer science, and photography–not an attorney!

If the question was: “What is the ultimate truth about Mt. Ebal, Joshua’s Altar, and the Curse Tablet?”, I might agree. In that case, I would likely say,” Yes, the experts should receive considerable latitude.”

But that is not the current question. Instead, it is ultimately whether to excavate now!

Answering this question requires another element beyond these experts’ opinions. It needs an agreed-upon objective standard for decision-making. One that can lead to a relatively expedited, yet well-reasoned decision.

Archaeologists, epigraphers, and similar experts are not necessarily equipped to negotiate this.

Consider, for example, an observation of Agatha Christie, the famous suspense novelist. She advised of the vehement interactions of her husband, himself a famous archaeologist, with others on archaeological issues. This she characterized as, “Blood on the carpet!”

Actual “blood on the carpet” may indeed resolve issues quickly, but likely not the non-literal sense Christie intended.

Nor will it necessarily precipitate the best immediate resolutions. Instead, it may settle with the side that speaks loudest, most, or worse yet, today, the side that best manipulates social media.

This matter is too important, too urgent for such a result.

So why me?

I am not an expert in archaeology, epigraphy, or tomography.

Instead, I am a combat infantry veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. Also, I am an attorney, a mostly retired member of the Louisiana bar.

But on the questions at issue, I am well qualified to make this case.

For me, the necessary elements are at hand.

The internet provides appropriate scholarly expertise. For example, one can find such on Heritage Science’s website. One appears at: “You are Cursed by the God YHW:” an early Hebrew inscription from Mt. Ebal. You discover another at: Mt. Ebal curse tablet? A refutation of the claims regarding the so-called Mt. Ebal curse tablet.

Experience as a combat infantryman helps a bit.

First, I have ideas about operating in a combat zone. Particularly, I have experienced scenes of civil tranquility that, in a moment, often the least expected, erupt into chaotic bloodshed.

The area of Mt. Ebal can become the eye of such. Periodically, it is at least within its penumbra.

This, decision-makers here should remember.

Additionally, another aspect of military experience is of value. Fully understanding the issues presented here requires a journey across an eon of time, one that encounters battles of ideas about truth. 

For this journey, one needs preparatory information.

In the U. S. Army, such comes in an operation order. Anyone who has ever served knows “Sergeant Major eats sugar cookies!”—situation, mission, execution, sustainment, command and signal—the anachronism for the elements of an operation order. To equip you for this adventure, I detail the most relevant of these in my next post.

My being an attorney, however, provides the most salient reason for “Why me?”This informed of a rule of law for a situation analogous to this matter. It is U.S. Code of Civil Procedure Rule 56–“Summary Judgment”. This applies an authoritative objective measure, one yielding an expedited decision with more than a modicum of logic.

This matter needs this decision-making clarity.

Presently, much public confusion reigns over the issues surrounding Mt. Ebal.

Some people have already ingrained notions. Many are largely derived, as one might choose a favorite football team. They have decided that they prefer the red team or the blue team, the gold or the purple. Logic may not run much deeper.

About this matter, the appropriate political authorities and the public who can influence them need to make up their minds quickly, but after serious thought.

Why? There are immense consequences for a wrong or late response.

Delay could lead to the loss of riddle answers for another decade, another century, maybe another thirty-five hundred years. Who knows?

On the other hand, acting without due forethought could upset the delicate political balance of a potential war zone.

The decision-making process that I espouse in this memorandum offers the opportunity for an expedited, logical deliberation that this matter mandates. 

In sum, stick with me for this excursion. Together we can reach our destination. We can digest the academic evidence. We can apply an objective measure. Also, on the following questions, we can render expedited yet considered decisions:

• Does satisfactory evidence support the fantastic claims about the Curse Tablet?; and
• Should we advocate for posthaste, but careful and thorough, excavation of Mt. Ebal’s alleged Joshua’s Altar, the origin of the Curse Tablet?

Again, come along! We can do this!

But first, let us make sure we have what we need for our time travel.

We will review this in our next post.

Now, a question: What may be the consequences of future generations not fully discerning what the Curse tablet might be?

Let me know in the comment section below.

Thank you for engaging this topic with me thus far!

Our next post I entitle: “Journey Essentials”.

I look forward to continuing with you there.

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Next post: “Journey Essentials”