Troubled Waters

History X

[Ebal’s Plea, sixteen of thirty]

After the press conference, twelve months passed. Then on 12 May 2023, three and a half years from the tablet’s discovery, Heritage Science finally published Stripling’s article.

How was this received?

Some were elated, some disappointed, others disgusted.

In succeeding posts I scrutinize the article, its photos, and various responses.

Here though I recall the context of these days. Significant currents darkened the times from the finding of the tablet through and beyond publication.

Of these three particularly warrant recounting.

Pandemic

In December 2019, as we have seen, the lead tablet landed in Frankie Synder’s wet-sifting tray.

In that same month ominous events brewed in another part of the world.

The Museum of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) displays this December 12, 2019 log entry:

“A cluster of patients in China’s Hubei Province, in the city of Wuhan, begin to experience the symptoms of an atypical pneumonia-like illness that does not respond well to standard treatments.”

Subsequently, COVID-19 leads to a two year Stripling hiatus from work in Israel.

Local Perils

On January 24, 2023 JNS, Jewish News Syndicate, reported this protest by the Israel Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant:

“Israel will not allow Palestinians to damage a major archaeological site located deep in the biblical heartland of Samaria, one that is revered by millions of Jews and Christians as the location where Joshua built an altar.”

This statement he issued in response to a Palestinian news report about planned construction in the vicinity of the Ebal altar site.

In a letter to the Palestinian Authority Gallant further directed:

“…it has been clarified…to the Palestinian Authority that we will not allow any damage to the altar, which has been defined as an archaeological site of historic cultural and religious significance.”

Events past and present underscored the necessity of Gallant’s manifesto.These include:

• In 2021 a Palestinian road crew damaged the outer “footprint” enclosing the Ebal altar.
• In Nablus during the last two decades several alarming incidents transpired at the tomb alleged to be that of Joseph, son of Jacob, second in command to Egypt’s Pharaoh. This purported holy site, venerated by Jews and Christians, was defaced, fire bombed, and otherwise purposely damaged. (Note that the actual location of Joseph’s tomb near ancient Shechem is a matter of speculation rather than exact historical or archaeological evidence.)
• Resultantly, heavily armed military units started escorting pilgrims to the area. This began after the Oslo Accords designated the region as “Area B”, one under the dual authority of the Palestinian civil government and the Israeli military.

From this last bullet one can readily perceive what might be the sentiments among some locals. Especially aggrieved likely would be those descending from ancestors who for generations have resided in the region.

Of what these Israeli military escorts consist I cannot relate. If, however, they resemble an American equivalent I envision vehicles armed with 50 calibers, 240 Bravos, 249 SAWS, or equivalent menacing weaponry. Infantrymen clad in full armor climbing to elevated positions with their M4’s acquitted with zeroed mechanical and electronic sights. A defensive cordon once established restricts entrance and exit of the area.

If some power not representing me executed such near my home, I can well imagine the caustic feelings that would swirl within!

On the other hand, one also can perceive the necessity of these escort measures.

The bottom line is this: Embitterment among some locals one must factor when evaluating the security of the Mt. Ebal altar.

October 7, 2023

During my life, little, if anything, equates the ghastly evil of Hamas’ cowardly massacre of innocents on this date.

Whether one labels Israel’s response “hard”, “harsh” or “brutal” is not the question. Hard, harsh and brutal can fall well within the acceptable context of the laws of war.

The real questions are whether war crimes have been perpetrated. World authorities appropriately should evaluate what lands fair and foul. Later individual soldiers, units, and leaders where appropriate should be held accountable.

Nevertheless, while there can be no excuse for violations of the law of war, one should not forget the horror which initially precipitated the resulting conflagration.

From it dominoes have since fallen, ones that have shaken much of the world.

For our purposes this we must remember: Mt. Ebal lies proximate to the eye of this tumult.

All of this having been noted, let us now bridge these troubled water.

In the next post I begin my review of the Stripling team’s Heritage Science article.

Next post: “Stripling’s Article”