2. (a) How did Joshua show obedience even to the last detail? (b) What took place at the mountains of Ebal and Gerizim?

² After the decisive victory at Ai, Joshua gave attention to the detailed instructions recorded at Deuteronomy 27:1–28:68. At Mount Ebal he erected an altar of whole stones, and there he carried out the command: “You must sacrifice communion sacrifices and eat them there, and you must rejoice before Jehovah your God.” Other stones were erected as a memorial, whitewashed, and the words of the Law were written upon them. Then the tribes were divided, one group standing on Mount Gerizim “to bless the people” and the other “for the malediction on Mount Ebal.” With raised voices the Levites pronounced the curses for disobedience, and all the people responded, “Amen!” Then the blessings for obedience were pronounced. But woe betide Israel if they failed to ‘carry out all the words of the law and to fear the glorious and awe-inspiring name of Jehovah God’!​—Joshua 8:32-35.

The inspired Bible book of Deuteronomy (in Hebrew Mish·neh’ hat·to·rahʹ meaning, “Repetition of the Law”) consists mainly of four discourses by Moses; these made it clear to Israel that they must obey Jehovah’s previously stated laws. Moses used over four times as many words in warning of disobedience and the resulting “curses” as he used in relating the “blessings.” At Mount Ebal, Joshua again put Israel on notice that they must obey.