From the Rejection of That Generation to the Death of Moses - Flavius Josephus

delivered to them the tabernacle also, and exhorted the people, that when
they had conquered the land, and were settled in it, they should not forget the
injuries of the Amalekites, but make war against them, and inflict
punishment upon them for what mischief they did them when they were in
the wilderness; and that when they had got possession of the land of the
Canaanites, and when they had destroyed the whole multitude of its
inhabitants, as they ought to do, they should erect an altar that should face
the rising sun, not far from the city of Shechem, between the two mountains,
that of Gerizzim, situate on the right hand, and that called Ebal, on the left;
and that the army should be so divided, that six tribes should stand upon each
of the two mountains, and with them the Levites and the priests. And that
first, those that were upon Mount Gerizzim should pray for the best blessings
upon those who were diligent about the worship of God, and the observation
of his laws, and who did not reject what Moses had said to them; while the
other wished them all manner of happiness also; and when these last put up
the like prayers, the former praised them. After this, curses were denounced
upon those that should transgress those laws, they ,answering one another
alternately, by way of confirmation of what had been said. Moses also wrote
their blessings and their curses, that they might learn them so thoroughly,
that they might never be forgotten by length of time. And when he was ready
to die, he wrote these blessings and curses upon the altar, on each side of it;
where he says also the people stood, and then sacrificed and offered burntofferings,
though after that day they never offered upon it any other sacrifice,
for it was not lawful so to do. These are the constitutions of Moses; and the
Hebrew nation still live according to them.
45. On the next day, Moses called the people together, with the women
and children, to a congregation, so as the very slaves were present also, that
they might engage themselves to the observation of these laws by oath; and
that, duly considering the meaning of God in them, they might not, either for
favor of their kindred, or out of fear of any one, or indeed for any motive
whatsoever, think any thing ought to be preferred to these laws, and so might
59