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Mount Ebal - location profile

Location and Setting

• The Vale of Shechem, in central Samaria, separates two important mountains, Ebal on the north and Gerizim on the south. Mount Ebal, the higher of the two, is a prominent mound of rock with little vegetation that reaches a height of 3,080 feet above sea level and nearly 1,500 feet above the valley floor. The two mountains are visible from Nebi Samuel, a hill on the northern side of Jerusalem, some twenty-five miles to the south.
• The mountain provides a commanding view of most of Samaria. The Mediterranean coast lies on the western horizon and across the Jordan Valley on the east, one can see the Dome of Gilead and much of the land of Transjordan.
• The valley between these mountains provides a natural amphitheater possessing outstanding acoustic properties.

Historical and Biblical Significance

• Knowing the Israelites’ propensity for idolatry and the temptations for the apostasy which they would face among the Canaanites in the land, God planned an unusual experience by which they would be taught the outcomes that would result from worshiping Him or from worshiping idols. While the nation was on the plains of Moab, preparing to enter the land, Moses pointed northwestward to these two mountains and prescribed the event in which they would participate. They would proceed from Gilgal to the area Shechem. Half of the tribes would be stationed on Mount Ebal and half on Mount Gerizim. The former would shout the curses that God would bring on them if they disobeyed him; the latter would shout the blessings that would result from obedience (Deut 11:29-32; 27:11-13). Commandments concerning these curses and blessings are listed in chapters 27-28.
• After God had given Israel control over the central and southern sectors of the land, Joshua led the people to Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim to implement the command given to Moses concerning the blessings and curses (Josh 8:30-35).
• Moses had instructed the people to set up large stones on Mount Ebal and cover them with cement (plaster). Joshua was to inscribe on them the words of the Law. Following this, an altar of unhewn stones was to be erected and sacrifices made on it (Deut 17:1-8). In addition to the chanting of the curses and blessings, Joshua wrote a copy of the law on stones at Mount Ebal, further reinforcing the absolute authority of God’s word to His people and their responsibility to obey it.
• The town of Sychar, the home of the woman who met Jesus at the village well, was located on the southeastern slope of Mount Ebal.

For further study, see also: Shechem, Mount Gerizim, Sychar.

Bibliography

1. Aharoni, Y. and M. Avi-Yonah. The Macmillan Bible Atlas. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1993.
2. Bimson, John J., ed. Baker Encyclopedia of Bible Places. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1995.
3. Crisler, B. Cobbey. "The Acoustics and Crowd Capacity of Natural Theaters in Palestine," Biblical Archeologist, (December, 1976): 128-141.
4. Manley, G.T. and Davies, G.I. "Ebal, Mount" The New Bible Dictionary. 2^nd ed. Ed. J.D. Douglas. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1982.
5. White, Jr., W. "Ebal, Mount" The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible. Ed. Merrill C. Tenney. 5 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1976.