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Mount Ebal: The Importance of Mountains in the Bible

10/13/2019

6 Comments

 
Those of you who have read the previous article about Mount Gerizim will be familiar with many of the Bible verses about Mount Ebal. For instance Deuteronomy 11:29: “When the Lord your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses.”
 
Mount Ebal is the less fertile of the two mountains in the middle of Canaan, now the West Bank territory. It is slightly higher than Mount Gerizim at 3080 feet, which is 60 feet above sea level. Primarily formed of limestone, the slopes contain several caverns that may once have been quarries. Towards the bottom are several tombs but it is not known to whom they belong.
 
When the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, Moses explained that Mount Ebal was to be used for curses and Gerizim for blessings. This may be on account of the difference in soil qualities. Later, the Israelites were instructed to build an altar upon the mountain: “And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster.” (Deuteronomy 27:4) Further instructions told them to make peace offerings on the altar, eat there, and write the words of the law – the Pentateuch - on the stone. 
 
Immediately after the instructions for the altar have been received, the Israelites are told to split into two groups. One group was to go to Mount Gerizim and pronounce blessings, and the other to remain on Mount Ebal and pronounce curses. “And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.” (Deuteronomy 27:13) There has been no logical explanation agreed upon for the choice of tribes, however, one suggestion is that this was the most equal split in terms of the number of people in each tribe as recorded in the book of Numbers.
 
The curses pronounced on Mount Ebal were the following:
  • Cursed is anyone who makes an idol
  • Cursed is anyone who dishonours their mother or father
  • Cursed is anyone who moves their neighbour’s boundary stone
  • Cursed is anyone who leads the blind astray on the road
  • Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow
  • Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his father’s wife
  • Cursed is anyone who has sexual relations with any animal
  • Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his sister
  • Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law
  • Cursed is anyone who kills their neighbour secretly
  • Cursed is anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person
  • Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law
 
After the Battle of Ai in the book of Joshua, Joshua renews the covenant at Mount Ebal.
  • “Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel.” (Joshua 8:30) 
  • “All the Israelites, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Both the foreigners living among them and the native-born were there. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel.” (Joshua 8:33)
The Israelites made peace offerings on the altar, replicating the events recorded in Deuteronomy. 
 
Over time, archaeologists have made many discoveries upon the slopes of Mount Ebal. Known to locals as el Burnat (the Hat), a stone heap resembling an amphitheatre was discovered during the 20thcentury. Pieces of pottery were found among the heap dating from 1220-1000 BC. Further excavations found a walled structure with no windows and doors that was full of stone, ash and burnt animal bones. The archaeologist in charge of the excavation believed the structure to be the remains of Joshua’s altar. Others argue that it could be an Assyrian altar since it does not fit with the Biblical account, which says Joshua’s altar faces Mount Gerizim, whereas these remains are on the opposite side. 
 
A third suggestion for the ruins is a simple farmhouse or guard tower. Nevertheless, if anyone wishes to visit the site, particularly the Israelis, they must liaise with the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and be escorted by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to ensure their safety. Plans were proposed to make Mount Ebal a tourist destination but as of yet, nothing has come to fruition. 
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6 Comments
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7/20/2020 02:17:05 am

Mount Ebal is the less fruitful of the two mountains in Canaan, presently the West Bank an area. It is marginally higher than Mount Gerizim at 3080 feet, which is 60 feet above ocean level. Essentially framed of limestone, the slants contain a few natural hollows that may once have been quarries. Towards the base are a few burial chambers however it isn't known to whom they have a place.

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Chris Bright
10/24/2020 07:54:34 am

The allocation of the tribes between Mt Gerizim and Mt Ebal, Deuteronomy 27:12 may be based upon their ancestry. None of the tribes descended from the maidservants Bilhah and Zilpah (Genesis Ch 29 and 30) stood on Mt Gerizim to pronounce blessings. Instead, the tribes Dan, Naphthali, Gad, and Asher stood on Mt Ebal to pronounce curses.

This is a similar principle to that of Hagar, the slave woman, and Sarah, the free woman in Galatians 4.

Also, the blessings pronounced by Jacob to his sons, Gen 49, and by Moses to the tribes, Deut 33, follow the pattern that more blessings are pronounced to the tribes that will stand on Mt Gerizim than those that will stand on Mt Ebal.

The tribes that stood on Mt Gerizim, the more southerly mount, took possession of more southerly inheritances that were closer to Jerusalem. However, the tribes that that stood on Mt. Ebal, the more northerly mountain generally took possession of inheritances further from Jerusalem, either more northerly inheritances than other tribes, or east of the river Jordan.

Zebulun, Napthali, Asher, and Dan were the most northerly tribes, were less blessed by Jacob and Moses and generally played lesser parts in the story of Israel. However, the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, were to be favoured by the early ministry of Jesus and many of His disciples were taken from there: "the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”. Matthew 4:16

God lifting up those more lowly tribes.

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9/15/2021 12:34:46 am

I don't know much about Mout Ebal as I never moved to the city of Nablus or Palestine country. However, the info you have shared about this mountain is very important for me. Therefore, I will visit the mountain this year.

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1/20/2022 10:28:33 pm

Many Bible scriptures regarding Mount Ebal will be known to Mount Gerizim. For example, Deuteronomy 11:29 says, "When the Lord your God has led you into the country you are coming to occupy, you are to announce the blessings atop Mount Gerizim and the curses on Mount Ebal."

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3/29/2022 05:07:27 am

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4/20/2022 11:17:36 am

Mountains were important because of the Noah story and also because they always worked as a place of hideout, had many tunnels that connected historical places. Also, many of their caverns were used as a temporary living space by many ancient tribes and still have wall writings saved from that era.

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    Author

    Rev'd Martin Wheadon
    I have been ordained as a minister since 2001, working on my own and within a team. I was the minister at Gants Hill URC until 30th September 2021. I also have 34 years of banking behind me, during which I enjoyed developing teams and working to deadlines. Pastoral care, preaching, being alongside people and journeying with members of congregations on their spiritual journeys are my delights. 

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