c. 13th–12th century BCE·Conquest·Site

The Mount Ebal Altar and 'Curse Tablet'

Scripture: Deuteronomy 27:4–8; Joshua 8:30–35

The stone structure on Mount Ebal identified by Adam Zertal as an altar · Photo: Elad Tzur · CC BY 3.0 · Source

The claim

Joshua builds an altar on Mount Ebal and reads the blessings and curses of the law.

What archaeology found

Adam Zertal excavated a stone structure on Mount Ebal (1982–89) and identified it as an early Israelite altar. Others see a farmhouse or watchtower. In 2022 Scott Stripling's team announced a tiny folded lead tablet, sifted from Zertal's dump, which they read as a curse naming 'YHW'. Many say no writing can be confirmed on it.

Where it is

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Mount EbalView on OpenStreetMap

Sources

Adam Zertal, Has Joshua's Altar Been Found on Mt. Ebal?, Biblical Archaeology Review 11:1 (1985)
Scott Stripling et al., 'You are cursed by the god YHW:' an early Hebrew inscription from Mt. Ebal, Heritage Science 11 (2023)

Verdict history

Nov 10, 2026DebatedInitial verdict.