Worship at Mount Ebal: 8:30–35 Immediately the scene changes. The action shifts suddenly to the northern highlands, from battle to liturgy, and from death to covenant renewal. Soggin interprets the ceremony at Mount Ebal as a doublet of the renewal ceremony at Shechem (Josh. 24; Soggin, Joshua, pp. 222ff.; LXX inserts this section after 9:2). However, considering the unique roles of both passages in the book, I do not view the ceremonies as doublets. Joshua followed the teachings of Moses by building an altar at Mount Ebal and renewing the covenant early in the campaign (Deut. 27:4). The ceremony at the altar on Mount Ebal celebrated victories at Jericho and Ai and repaired damage to the covenant caused by Achan’s violations of herem (cf. violations anticipated in Deut. 31:23–29).

Mount Eba…