Why Me?

The Mt. Ebal Curse Tablet

Preface III

[Post four of thirty-three]

Why should I attempt to tackle Mt. Ebal’s enigmas? The reason is this: I have experience with an appropriate tool. That is summary judgment.

For a definitive opinion on this matter, one would likely, at first blush, look elsewhere. You might consider a panel. That would include archaeologists, epigraphers, and experts in tomography, computer science, and photography. But not a soldier or an attorney!

If the question was: “What is the ultimate truth about Mt. Ebal, Joshua’s Altar, and the Curse Tablet?”, I would 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 whether to excavate now!

Answering this question requires another element. That is an expedited, well-reasoned decision.

How is this achieved?

Usually, archaeologists, epigraphers, and similar experts are not best equipped to negotiate this.

Consider Agatha Christie. She described her husband, an esteemed archaeologist, conferring with colleagues. This, she said, was “Blood on the carpet!”

Real “blood” may achieve a quick resolution. But likely not in the non-literal sense Christie intended.

Often, too, it may not precipitate the best immediate resolution. Instead, it may settle with the side that speaks loudest. Worse, today, it may be with the one who 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 a retired member of the Louisiana Bar.

But on the questions at issue, I can make this case.

Experience as a combat infantryman helps a bit.

First, I have ideas about operating in a combat zone. Particularly, I have experienced scenes of tranquility. Then, in a moment, they erupt into chaotic bloodshed.

The area of Mt. Ebal can become the eye of such.

This, decision-makers should remember.

Additionally, another aspect of military experience is of value. Understanding the issues presented here requires a journey across an eon of time. There, one encounters battles 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!” This is the mnemonic for the elements of an operation order. That is: situation, mission, execution, sustainment, and command and signal.

To equip you for this adventure, I will detail the most relevant of these in my next post.

My being a retired attorney, however, provides the most salient reason for “Why me?”

For me, the necessary elements are at hand.

The internet provides renditions of the facts as viewed by appropriate experts. For instance, one finds such on Heritage Science’s website. One example appears at “You are Cursed by the God YHW:” an early Hebrew inscription from Mt. Ebal. You discover another opposing rendition at: Mt. Ebal curse tablet? A refutation of the claims regarding the so-called Mt. Ebal curse tablet

I also have experience with a rule of law analogous to this matter. It is U.S. Code of Civil Procedure Rule 56, “Summary Judgment”. This states an authoritative measure. Plus, it yields an expedited decision with more than a modicum of logic.

This matter demands clear directions.

Much public confusion now reigns over the issues surrounding Mt. Ebal.

Some people have ingrained notions.

Many deduce them, as one might choose a favorite football team. They prefer the red team or the blue team, the gold or the purple. Logic may not run much deeper.

Political authorities and the public who can influence them need to make up their minds. They must do this soon. But after serious thought.

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

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

But acting without due forethought could upset a war zone’s delicate political balance.

This memorandum offers a solution. It presents an expedited, logical way to deliberate this matter.

Stick with me on this excursion. Together, we can reach our destination. We can digest the academic evidence. We can apply a fair 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 excavation of the alleged Joshua’s Altat?

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, here is a question. So what if future generations fail to discern the Curse Tablet’s true character?

Let me know in the comment section below.

Next post: “Journey Essentials”

To view the memorandum from the beginning, click here.

For the composite footnotes, click here.