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The Mt. Ebal Curse Tablet
Preface III
[Post four of thirty-two]
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 anachronism 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:
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“
The Mt. Ebal Curse Tablet
Preface II
[Post three of thirty-two]
Why fuss over an artifact no bigger than a business card folded in half?
This question differs from that in my last post. It captured the reasons for interest in the Curse Tablet. In political terms, I addressed a candidate’s hair, smile, and social grace. Here, I turn to substance. Politically, the gist is more like economics, crime, and foreign policy.
Thus, three reasons for the fuss are:
A Thought Tsunami
This artifact could trigger a tsunami of thought! From it, massive philosophical changes could ensue. It could alter historical, archaeological, epigraphic, and even political understandings.
There is much at stake. This “Curse Tablet” may establish the Hebrews of the Conquest as historical realities.
Preservation of Ancient Evidence
This matter also raises these questions:
War and Peace
The third reason this topic deserves the fuss is this: Joshua’s Altar lies in a war zone.
Excavations here could inflame tensions in a troubled region.
Questions, thus, include:
As you see, this memorandum addresses both smiles and substance.
But before proceeding, I should answer another important question. It is: “Why should you consider my views on these matters?”
This, I discuss in the next post.
Now, a question for you: How might resolving “Who wrote the Torah?” impact your life or that of others?
Respond in the comment section below.
Next post: “Why Me?“
The Mt. Ebal Curse Tablet
Preface I
[Post two of thirty-two]
For one, this story enthralls me.
While the setting is in this galaxy, even on this planet, the adventure starts a long, long time ago. It is far before Caesar and Hannibal. Imagine three hundred years before Alexander and Bucephalus. There you find the mysterious Homer. He spins his supernatural-laced tales of half a millennium before his time. Still, our saga begins a century, if not three, before those storied events. That is before Achilles’ epic feats, the Battle of Troy, and Odysseus’ journey home.
Alexander and Bucephalus, Battle of Issus, 333 B.C.
Plus, it is a story about writing by people considered unable to do so. By that, I mean unable to write in a way that you or I would find understandable. Without extensive training in things like hieroglyphics or cuneiform, that is. No, you can read this after only a quick lesson in the alphabet and vocabulary. You can imagine it almost like a news feed on your phone.
Well, I have to walk that back a bit. We would have to account for the boustrophedon track. Some ambiguity that adds to the message without blurring its gist. I will explain this later.
Still, this is about us reading the thoughts of someone thirty-five hundred years ago.
But it goes beyond that. The inscription seems to detail events and personages we know. Many believed that these were the stuff of mythology. They are Moses, Joshua, and the Hebrews of the Conquest.
Further, this involves a fascinating epigraphic puzzle with challenging questions like:
The solution to this puzzle rivals other famous puzzles. Those include the Seven Bridges of Königsberg, the Enigma Machine, and the Navajo Code Talkers.
Yet, beyond my interest, there is another, more important reason for my writing.
It is this: A tragedy impends. I needed to warn and suggest how to avoid it.
Beginning in my next post, I will explain this further.
Now, a question: What would you like to learn from a news feed from thirty-five hundred years ago? Let me know in your comments.
Next post: “Why the Fuss?“
Fool’s Gold or Archaeological Treasure?
An Assay
Foreword
{Post one of thirty-two}
We should give Moses, Joshua, and the Hebrews of the Conquest a chance to prove who they are! Advocate for excavating “Joshua’s Altar,” the origin of the Mt. Ebal Curse Tablet!
My name is Ernie Vallery. I am a retired Louisiana attorney living in South Coast, Massachusetts.
Claims about the Curse Tablet counter an entrenched historical premise. Generations of scholars have said that Moses could not have written the Torah. Scripture attests otherwise. So may the tablet.
Our problem is how to resolve this tension, in part.
My answer is that we apply a legal standard, such as the one used in federal courts for summary judgment.
My plea results. Regional and international actors must stir. They should finish excavations at Joshua’s Altar. They should spend the necessary financial, political, and other resources.
Joshua’s Altar and the Curse Tablet deserve a chance to prove their identity. Are they a consequence of the words and actions of the Hebrews of the Conquest? Humankind deserves to know!
The exigent evidence demands:
This argument raises necessary questions, which I should address at the outset. Before launching into the matter’s heart, I include these three prefatory posts:
Two introductory posts follow. The first seeks to arm readers for a 3,500-year journey. The second builds enthusiasm for the trip.
Those posts are:
Afterwards comes the main body.
(Click here to see the table of contents.)
It seems like a lot! But do not let it intimidate you. Persevere! Then this consequential topic becomes easy, much like witnessing a cascade of dominoes.
Here is a question. What present historical issues compare to those explored in this memorandum? Let me know in the “comments”.
Next post: “Why Write This?“
