Chapter 46—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 marshal all the men of war and again advance against
Ai. The power of God was with His people, and they were soon in
possession of the city.
The people were eager to obtain settlement in Canaan; as yet
they had no homes or lands for their families, and to gain these they
must drive out the Canaanites. But a higher duty demanded their first
attention. They must renew their covenant of loyalty to God.
In the last instructions of Moses, directions had been given for
a convocation upon Mounts Ebal and Gerizim at Shechem, for the
recognition of the law of God. In obedience, the men, “the women and
the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them”
left Gilgal and marched through the country of their enemies to the
vale of Shechem, near the center of the land. Though surrounded by
unconquered foes, “the terror of God was upon the cities that were
round about them” (
Genesis 35:5
), and the Hebrews were unmolested.
Here both Abraham and Jacob had pitched their tents. Here the
latter 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 worthy to be the theater where this impressive
scene was to be enacted. The lovely valley, its green fields dotted
with olive groves, watered with brooks from living fountains, and
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hemmed with wild flowers, spread out invitingly between the barren
hills. Ebal and Gerizim, upon opposite sides of the valley, nearly
approach each other, their lower spurs seeming to form a natural pulpit,
every word spoken on one being distinctly audible on the other. The
mountainsides, receding, afford space for a vast assemblage.
A monument of great stones was erected upon Mount Ebal. Upon
these stones, previously prepared by a covering of plaster, the law was
inscribed—not only the ten precepts spoken from Sinai and engraved
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