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The Blessings and the Curses
This chapter is based on Joshua 8.
After the execution of the sentence on Achan, Joshua was com-
manded to gather all the men of war and again advance against Ai.
The power of God was with His people, and they quickly captured
the city.
The people were eager to settle in Canaan, but they had no homes
or lands yet for their families, and to get these they must drive out the
Canaanites. But a higher duty demanded their first attention—they
must renew their covenant of loyalty to God.
Moses’ last instructions had included directions to hold a special
service on Mounts Ebal and Gerizim at Shechem, to recognize the
law of God. So, in obedience, the men, “the women, the little
ones, and the strangers who were living among them” left Gilgal
and marched through the country of their enemies to the valley of
Shechem, near the center of the land. Although they were surrounded
by unconquered enemies, “the terror of God was upon the cities that
were all around them” (
Genesis 35:5
), and the Hebrews were not
attacked or threatened.
Both Abraham and Jacob had pitched their tents in Shechem,
and it was here that Jacob had bought the field in which the tribes
were to bury the body of Joseph. Here also was the well that Jacob
had dug.
The spot chosen was well fit to be the theater to enact this im-
pressive scene. The lovely valley, its green fields dotted with olive
groves, watered with brooks from living fountains, and bordered
with wild flowers, spread out invitingly between the barren hills.
Ebal and Gerizim, on opposite sides of the valley, almost come to-
gether, their lower spurs seeming to form a natural pulpit. Every
word spoken on one was distinctly heard on the other. The receding
mountainsides, gave enough space for a huge assembly.
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