**The Altar on Mount Ebal: A Covenant of Blessings and Curses**
The sun hung high over the Jordan River, its golden rays shimmering on the water as the Israelites gathered on the plains of Moab. The air was thick with anticipation, for Moses, their aged and revered leader, had called them together to hear the words of the Lord. The people stood in awe, their hearts stirred by the gravity of the moment. They had wandered for forty years, and now, at last, they stood on the brink of the Promised Land. But before they could cross the Jordan, there was a sacred task to fulfill—a task that would mark their covenant with the Lord and set the tone for their life in the land flowing with milk and honey.
Moses, his face radiant with the wisdom of years and the presence of God, stood before the assembly. His voice, though weathered by time, carried the authority of heaven as he spoke. “Listen, O Israel, to the statutes and rules that I proclaim to you today. When you cross the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones and coat them with plaster. On them, you shall write all the words of this law, so that you may enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you.”
The people listened intently, their eyes fixed on Moses. He continued, “And when you have crossed over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and you shall build an altar to the Lord your God. It shall be an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool has been used. You shall offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God, and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, rejoicing before the Lord your God.”
Moses paused, his gaze sweeping over the multitude. “And you shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.” The people nodded, their hearts stirred by the solemnity of the task. They understood that this was no ordinary act; it was a declaration of their covenant with the Lord, a reminder of His laws, and a testament to His faithfulness.
As the sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the camp, Moses divided the people. He appointed six tribes—Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin—to stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people. The other six tribes—Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali—were to stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce the curses. The Levitical priests, bearing the ark of the covenant, stood in the valley between the two mountains, their voices ready to proclaim the words of the Lord.
The day of fulfillment came. The Israelites crossed the Jordan, their hearts filled with both joy and trepidation. They ascended the slopes of Mount Ebal, carrying the large stones they had prepared. With great care, they coated the stones with plaster and inscribed the words of the law upon them, ensuring that every commandment, every statute, and every judgment was clearly written. The altar of uncut stones was erected, and the people offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. The smoke of the sacrifices rose into the heavens, a sweet aroma to God, as the people rejoiced in His presence.
Then, the Levitical priests, their voices strong and clear, began to proclaim the blessings and the curses. From Mount Gerizim, the voices of the six tribes rang out, declaring the blessings for obedience: “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your cattle. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.”
But from Mount Ebal, the other six tribes pronounced the curses for disobedience, their voices solemn and weighty: “Cursed is the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the Lord, and sets it up in secret. Cursed is anyone who dishonors his father or his mother. Cursed is anyone who moves his neighbor’s landmark. Cursed is anyone who misleads a blind man on the road. Cursed is anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.”
As the curses were proclaimed, the people responded with a resounding “Amen!” Their voices echoed through the valley, a collective affirmation of their commitment to the covenant. They understood that the blessings were not automatic; they were contingent upon their obedience to the Lord’s commands. Likewise, the curses were a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God.
The ceremony concluded with a sense of reverence and awe. The stones on Mount Ebal stood as a perpetual witness to the covenant between God and His people. The altar, built with uncut stones, symbolized the purity and holiness of their worship. The words of the law, inscribed plainly on the stones, served as a constant reminder of God’s expectations and His unwavering faithfulness.
As the Israelites descended the mountain, their hearts were filled with a renewed sense of purpose. They knew that the journey ahead would not be easy, but they also knew that the Lord was with them. The blessings and curses of Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim were not just words; they were a call to faithfulness, a challenge to live as a holy people, set apart for the Lord.
And so, with the words of the covenant echoing in their hearts, the Israelites prepared to take possession of the land the Lord had promised them. They knew that their success depended not on their own strength, but on their obedience to the God who had brought them out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the land of promise. The altar on Mount Ebal stood as a testament to their covenant with the Lord, a covenant of blessings and curses, of faithfulness and obedience, of life and death. And they resolved, with all their hearts, to choose life.
