Mount gerizim in Biblical History

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What is Mount Gerizim?
MOUNT GER'IZIM
a mountain in Ephraim, near Shechem, from which the blessings were pronounced, as the curses were from Mount Ebal, Deut 11:29; Deut 27:1-13; Josh 8:30-33, Gerizim is 2855 feet above the level of the sea, and about 800 feet above Nablus (Shechem). It is separated from Ebal by a narrow valley. Six tribes were placed on Gerizim, and six on Ebal, Deut 27:12-13, the ark probably in the valley between them, and Joshua read the blessings and cursings successively. Josh 8:33, Josh 8:35. The Levites on either side re-echoed them, and the people responded "Amen!" Deut 27:14-15. Gerizim was the scene of the first recorded parable -- that of the trees and brambles. Jud 9:7-21. It was the site of the Samaritan temple, and referred to by the woman at the well. John 4:20. Samaritan tradition asserts that it is the place where Abraham offered Isaac, but this is not sustained by the best authorities. It is now Jebel et Tur. See Moriah. Present Condition. -- The mountain is composed chiefly of limestone. It has a large plateau on its summit, covered with ruins of cisterns, paved platforms, and on one side those of a castle. The whole mountain-top bears traces of having once been covered with houses. The small remnant of the Samaritan sect at Nablus performs annually the paschal sacrifice on the top of Gerizim according, to the prescription of the book of Exodus 12. It is the only spot on earth where this Jewish festival is perpetuated in its primitive style. Dean Stanley and other travellers have visited the scene, and point out the striking resemblance to the Mosaic prescription. The amphitheatre formed by these two mounts, Gerizim and Ebal, is most suitable for assembling a vast body of people within the hearing of the human voice, and where all could see what was being done. There is no other place like it in all Palestine. Numerous travellers have repeated the experiment of stationing persons on the opposite mounts, and heard the reading of the ten commandments by each party, and they were also heard by each other with great distinctness. See Ebal, Shechem.

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Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'mount gerizim' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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