Chancing a Curse

Preface I

{Ebal one of thirty}

Exposed and unprotected for forty years, harboring potentially among the greatest archaeological and historical artifacts, it is time to chance a full excavation of the alleged Joshua’s Altar, the origin of the Mt. Ebal Curse Tablet.

My name is Ernie Valllery. I am a mostly retired Louisiana attorney living now in South Coast Massachusetts.

This is the first of a series of posts arguing that the proposed Joshua’s Altar and the Mt. Ebal Curse Tablet deserve a chance to prove what they might be. To read a compilation of all posts on this topic click here.

Otherwise, continue reading here.

In 2019 an archaeological team found this tiny piece of lead in northern Judea / Samaria.

Today In academic circles that minuscule object causes great consternation. Owing to the magnitude of its challenge to world history, some scholars declare it the archaeological find of the 21st Century. Others say: “There is nothing to see here!”

This debate I do not seek to definitively resolve.

Instead, I argue for something less, yet exceedingly important.

It is that Joshua’s Altar and the Curse Tablet deserve a chance to prove what they might be.

In other words, the exigent evidence, I find ,warrants:

• Immediate international protection of the proposed Altar; and
• Public and governmental support for its thorough archaeological excavation.

This argument raises necessary questions that I should at the beginning address. Before launching into the matter’s heart, I thus present these three other prefacing posts:

• Why Write This?;
• Why the Fuss?;and
• Why Me?

Two introductory posts follow. The first seeks to arm readers for the 3500 year journey that this matter invokes. The second attempts to wet enthusiasm for that trip.

Those posts are:

• Journey Essentials; and
• A Mysterious Tease

Afterwards, comes the main body.

The table of contents is thus:

• Prelude (Posts 1 through 4);
• Introduction (5 and 6)
• History (7 through 16):
• Photo Study (17 through 20);
• Opposing Voices (21 through 22);
• Objective Analysis (23 through 28);
• Conclusion (29); and
• Supplemental Material (30+).

It seems a lot! But do not be intimidated. Really, it is just a matter of hanging with the story. Do that and tackling this consequential topic you should find easy, much like witnessing a cascade of dominoes!

Now a question for you. Can you think of other historical issues of comparable consequence to that which this memorandum explores? Let me know below in “comments”.

Thank you for reading!

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Next post: “Why Write This?“