3rd party tutorials may have many useful tips, but they may also offer outdated instructions or inject problem-inducing diversions. This is the official way to install openHAB 1.8.0 on Linux or OSX, if you are using either of those operating systems.
I will do a fresh restore and reinstall of the Pi and follow that install guide.
I had tried the openhab install from the front page six months ago, and gave up trying to deal with this error.
I tried again yesterday and ran into the same thing.
I found that comprehensive raspberry pi install, and ended up in the same place. However, I think it was a mistake I made copying files over SMB, as the config file had disappeared. The mac was giving lots of finder copy errors.