Mt. Ebal, Israel: Where Israel commemorated the covenant with blessings and cursings
God told the people of Israel, when they cross into the Promised Land they must commemorate their divinely given laws on Mt. Ebal, which is just across the Jordan River, by writing them on stone and by setting up an altar (Deutronomy 27:2-8). They were told to put the cursings for violating the laws on Mt. Ebal, and the blessings for keeping the laws on Mt. Gerizim (Deuteronomy 11:29). Joshua did exactly that (Joshua 8:33), placing half the people on Mt. Ebal to recite the cursings, and half on adjacent Mt. Gerizim, to recite the blessings. Because they are so close, they could have heard each other, as modern recreations have demonstrated. It was not stated why Mt. Ebal was designated for the cursings, but it is relatively barren, while Mt. Gerizim is quite fertile.
This photo of Mt. Ebal was taken from Mt. Gerazim. In the valley below is ancient SHECHEM, and next to it, JACOB’S WELL, where Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman in John 4. Very nearby is the BALATA REFUGEE CAMP in modern Nablus.
Is15-9168--Mt-Ebal--5-5x7-5
Mt. Ebal, Israel: Where Israel commemorated the covenant with blessings and cursings
God told the people of Israel, when they cross into the Promised Land they must commemorate their divinely given laws on Mt. Ebal, which is just across the Jordan River, by writing them on stone and by setting up an altar (Deutronomy 27:2-8). They were told to put the cursings for violating the laws on Mt. Ebal, and the blessings for keeping the laws on Mt. Gerizim (Deuteronomy 11:29). Joshua did exactly that (Joshua 8:33), placing half the people on Mt. Ebal to recite the cursings, and half on adjacent Mt. Gerizim, to recite the blessings. Because they are so close, they could have heard each other, as modern recreations have demonstrated. It was not stated why Mt. Ebal was designated for the cursings, but it is relatively barren, while Mt. Gerizim is quite fertile.
This photo of Mt. Ebal was taken from Mt. Gerazim. In the valley below is ancient SHECHEM, and next to it, JACOB’S WELL, where Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman in John 4. Very nearby is the BALATA REFUGEE CAMP in modern Nablus.
Is15-9168--Mt-Ebal--5-5x7-5