Mount Ebal sits just north of the ancient city of Shechem (modern Nablus) in the hill country of Samaria. Across the valley to the south stands Mount Gerizim.
In the Bible, Mount Ebal is where Israel gathered after entering the Promised Land. Moses had commanded that an altar be built there and that the covenant be renewed once the people crossed the Jordan (Deuteronomy 27).
Joshua later carried out those instructions. An altar was built on Mount Ebal, sacrifices were offered, and the Law of Moses was read aloud before the people (Joshua 8:30-35).
A landscape view taken from Mount Ebal looking toward the head of the mountain.
Know Nuggets:
–Mount Ebal became known as the “mountain of curses”, while the opposite ridge, Mount Gerizim, was the “mountain of blessings”. The people of Israel stood between the two as the covenant was proclaimed.
–The tribes of Israel split between the two mountains; half stood on Mount Gerizim (blessings), half on Mount Ebal (curses); the Ark of the Covenant and the Levites were in the valley between them. The Law was read aloud to the entire assembly of Israel.
