Six of the tribes--all descended from Leah and Rachel--were stationed upon Mount Gerizim; while those that descended from the handmaids, together with Reuben and Zebulun, took their position on Ebal, the priests with the ark occupying the valley between them. Silence was proclaimed by the sound of the signal trumpet; and then in the deep stillness, and in the presence of this vast assembly, Joshua, standing beside the sacred ark, read the blessings that were to follow obedience to God's law. All the tribes on Gerizim responded by an Amen. He then read the curses, and the tribes on Ebal in like manner gave their assent, thousands upon thousands of voices uniting as the voice of one man in the solemn response. Following this came the reading of the law of God, together with the statutes and judgments that had been delivered to them by Moses.

Seks af stammerne - alle efterkommere af Lea og Rakel - tog plads på Garizims bjerg, mens de, der nedstammede fra trælkvinderne, tog plads på Ebals bjerg sammen med Rubens og Zebulons stamme. Præsterne, som bar arken, tog plads i dalen imellem dem. Alarmtrompeten gav signal til stilhed, og nu oplæste Josua fra sin plads ved siden af den hellige ark i den store forsamlings påhør de velsignelser, der ville blive folket til del, hvis de var lydige imod Guds lov. De stammer, der stod på Garizim, svarede ved at sige amen. Bagefter læste han forbandelserne, og nu svarede stammerne på Ebals bjerg. I tusindvis af røster istemte det højtidelige svar som een røst. Derefter oplæstes Guds lov og de anordninger og lovbud, som Moses havde overdraget dem.