Old view of Mount Gerizim

Mount Gerizim (Samaritan Hebrew Ar-garízim, Arabic جبل جرزيم Jabal Jarizīm, Tiberian Hebrew הַר גְּרִזִּים Har Gərizzîm, Standard Hebrew הַר גְּרִיזִּים Har Gərizzim) is one of the two mountains in the immediate vicinity of the West Bank city of Nablus (Biblical Shechem), and forms the southern side of the valley in which Nablus is situated, the northern side being formed by Mount Ebal. The mountain is one of the highest peaks in the West Bank, as well as being higher than most mountain peaks in Israel, and rises to 2849 feet (881 meters) above sea level, some 228 feet (19 meters) shorter than Mount Ebal^[1]. The mountain is particularly steep on the northern side, is sparsely covered at the top with shrubbery, and lower down there is a spring with a high yield of fresh water^[2]. Image File history File links Gerizim. ... Image File history File links Gerizim. ... The Samaritan Hebrew language is a descendant of Biblical Hebrew as pronounced and written by the Samaritans. ... Arabic ( or just ) is the largest living member of the Semitic language family in terms of speakers. ... Tiberian Hebrew is an oral tradition of pronunciation for ancient forms of Hebrew, especially the Hebrew of the Bible, that was given written form by masoretic scholars in the Jewish community at Tiberias in the early middle ages, beginning in the 8th century. ... The Modern Hebrew language is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family. ... Map of the West Bank, with Nablus in the center north. ... This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ... Shechem is a name of geographical places. ... Mount Ebal, a mountain peak 940 meters above sea level just north of the West Bank city of Nablus. ... For considerations of sea level change, in particular rise associated with possible global warming, see sea level rise. ... A natural spring on Mackinac Island in Michigan. ...

Two villages are situated on the mountain ridge, Kiryat Luza (Samaritan), and Har Bracha (Jewish). For other senses of this word, see Samaritan (disambiguation). ... Har Bracha (Hebrew: ‎), lit. ... For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ...

Trilingual road signs directing toward Mount Gerizim and Kiryat Luza ("Shomronim" - Samaritans in Hebrew)

The mountain is sacred to the Samaritans who regard it, rather than Jerusalem's Temple Mount, as having been the location chosen by Yahweh for a holy temple. The mountain continues to be the centre of Samaritan religion to this day, and over 90% of the worldwide population of Samaritans live in very close proximity to Gerizim, mostly in Kiryat Luza, the main village. The passover is celebrated by the Samaritans on Mount Gerizim^[3], and it is additionally considered by them as the location of the Near-sacrifice of Isaac (the masoretic and Septuagint versions of Genesis state that this happened on Mount Moriah which Jews traditionally identify as the Temple Mount)^[4]. According to classical rabbinical sources, in order to convert to Judaism, a Samaritan must first and foremost renounce any belief in the sanctity of Mount Gerizim^[5]. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... The Temple Mount as it appears today. ... Tetragrammaton redirects here. ... Pasch redirects here. ... Abraham Sacrificing Isaac by Laurent de LaHire, 1650 The Binding of Isaac (‎, Akedát Yitzhák) in Genesis 22, is narration from the Hebrew Bible, in which God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac on Mount Moriah. ... The Masoretic Text (MT) is the Hebrew text of the Tanakh approved for general use in Judaism. ... The Septuagint: A column of uncial text from 1 Esdras in the Codex Vaticanus, the basis of Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brentons Greek edition and English translation. ... Genesis (‎, Greek: Γένεσις, meaning birth, creation, cause, beginning, source or origin) is the first book of the Torah, the Tanakh, and the Old Testament. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and make it more accessible to a general audience, this article may require cleanup. ... Rabbinic literature, in the broadest sense, can mean the entire spectrum of Judaisms rabbinic writing/s throughout history. ...

Biblical account

In the masoretic text of Deuteronomy and the Septuagint version of the same, an instruction is given to build an altar on Mount Ebal, constructed from natural (rather than cut) stones, to place stones there and whiten them with lime^[6], to make peace offerings on the altar, eat there, and write the words of this law on the stone^[7]. According to the Samaritan Pentateuch version of Deuteronomy, the instruction actually concerns Mount Gerizim, which the Samaritans view as a holy site^[8]. The Masoretic Text (MT) is the Hebrew text of the Tanakh approved for general use in Judaism. ... Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible. ... The Septuagint: A column of uncial text from 1 Esdras in the Codex Vaticanus, the basis of Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brentons Greek edition and English translation. ... Calcium oxide (CaO), commonly known as lime, quicklime or burnt lime, is a widely used chemical compound. ... Korban (קרבן) (plural: Korbanot קרבנות) is a Jewish practice of sacrificing an animal or of making an offering at the Temple. ... This entry incorporates text from Eastons Bible Dictionary, 1897, with some modernisation. ... For other senses of this word, see Samaritan (disambiguation). ...

An instruction immediately subsequent to this orders that, once this is done, the Israelites should split into two groups, one to stay on Mount Ebal and pronounce curses, while the other goes to Mount Gerizim and pronounces blessings^[9]. The tribes of Simeon, of Levi, of Judah, of Issachar, of Joseph, and of Benjamin were to be sent to Gerizim, while those of Reuben, of Gad, of Asher, of Zebulun, of Dan, and of Naphtali, were to remain on Ebal^[10]. No attempts to explain this division of tribes either by their Biblical ethnology or by their geographical distribution have been generally accepted in academic circles^[11]. The Tribe of Simeon (Hebrew שִׁמְעוֹן Hearkening; listening, Standard Hebrew , Tiberian Hebrew ) was one of the Tribes of Israel. ... In the Jewish tradition, a Levite (לוי Attached, Standard Hebrew Levi, Tiberian Hebrew Lēwî) is a member of the Hebrew tribe of Levi. ... The Tribe of Judah (Hebrew: יְהוּדָה, Praise; Standard Hebrew , Tiberian Hebrew ) is one of the Hebrew tribes, founded by Judah, son of Jacob(Israel). ... The Tribe of Issachar (יִשָּׂשׁכָר Reward; recompense, Standard Hebrew Yissaḫar, Tiberian Hebrew Yiśśâḵār) is one of the Hebrew tribes, which the Bible claims was founded by Issachar son of Jacob. ... The Tribe of Joseph is not usually listed with the Hebrew tribes although Joseph is one of Jacobs twelve sons, his elder son by Rachel. ... The Tribe of Benjamin (בִּנְיָמִין Son of my right hand but in some Rabbinical Judaism traditions Son of the south, Standard Hebrew Binyamin, Tiberian Hebrew Binyāmîn) is one of the Hebrew tribes, founded by Benjamin, youngest son of Jacob. ... The Tribe of Reuben (Hebrew: שֵׁבֶט רְאוּבֵן, Standard Tiberian ) is one of the Hebrew tribes, founded by Reuben son of Jacob. ... The Tribe of Gad (גָּד soldier, Standard Hebrew Gad, Tiberian Hebrew Gāḏ) is one of the Hebrew tribes, founded by Gad son of Jacob, who was born to Zilpah, the handmaiden of Jacobs first wife, Leah. ... The Tribe of Asher (אָשֵׁר happy, Standard Hebrew AÅ¡er, Tiberian Hebrew ʼĀšēr) is one of the Hebrew tribes, founded by Asher the eighth son of Jacob. ... This entry incorporates text from Eastons Bible Dictionary, 1897, with some modernisation. ... Tribe of Dan was also a band from the mid 1990s. ... The Hebrew Tribe of Naphtali (My wrestling), was founded by Naphtali, son of Jacob. ... Ethnology (from the Greek ethnos, meaning people) is the branch of anthropology that compares and analyses the origins, distribution, technology, religion, language, and social structure of the racial or national divisions of humanity. ...

The text goes on to list twelve curses, which were to be pronounced by the Levite priesthood and answered by the people with Amen^[12]. These curses heavily resemble laws (eg cursed be he who removes his neighbour's landmark), and they are not followed by a list of blessings described in a similarly liturgical framework; scholars believe that these more likely represent what was written on the stones, and that the later list of six explicit blessings^[13], six near-corresponding explicit curses^[14], were originally in this position in the text^[15]. The present position of these explicit blessings and curses, within a larger narrative of promise, and a far larger narrative of threat (respectively), is considered to have been an editorial decision for the post-exilic second version of Deuteronomy (Dtr2), to reflect the deuteronomist's worldview after the Babylonian exile had occurred^[16]. In the Jewish tradition, a Levite (לֵוִי Attached, Standard Hebrew , Tiberian Hebrew ) is a member of the Hebrew tribe of Levi. ... Look up Amen in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Deuteronomist (D) is one of the sources of the Torah postulated by the documentary hypothesis that treats the texts of Scripture as products of human intellect, working in time. ... Babylonian captivity also refers to the permanence of the Avignon Papacy. ...

In the Book of Joshua, after the Battle of Ai, Joshua built an altar of unhewn stones there, the Israelites then made peace offereings on it, the law of Moses was written onto the stones, and the Israelites split into the two groups specified in Deuteronomy and pronounced blessings and cursings as instructed there^[17]. There is some debate between textual scholars as to whether this incident in Joshua is one account or spliced together two different accounts, where one account refers to Joshua building an altar, and making sacrifices on it, while the other account refers to Joshua placing large stone slabs there that had been whitened with lime and then had the law inscribed on them^[18]. Either way there is general agreement that the sources of Joshua predate Deuteronomy, and hence that the order to build the altar and make the inscription is likely based on these actions in the sources of Joshua, rather than the other way round, possibly to provide an aetiology for the site acceptable to the deuteronomist's theology^[19]. The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in both the Hebrew Tanakh and the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. ... Ai (Hebrew: ; heap of ruins) refers to one or two places in ancient Israel: A city mentioned along with Heshbon by Jeremiah 49:3, whose location is currently unknown, and which may or may not be the same as: A Canaanite royal city which according to the Book of Joshua... Carmina Cantabrigiensia, Manuscript C, folio 436v, 11th century Textual criticism or lower criticism is a branch of philology or bibliography that is concerned with the identification and removal of errors from texts and manuscripts. ... Etiology (alternately aetiology, aitiology) is the study of Greek words aitia = cause and logos = word/speech) is used in philosophy, physics and biology in reference to the causes of various phenomena. ...

Much later in the Book, when Joshua was old and dying, he gathered the people together at Shechem, and gave a farewell speech, and then wrote these words in the book of the law of Yahweh, and set up a stone as a witness, placing it next to the sanctuary of Yahweh, under the oak tree^[20]. Depending on the way in which the sources of Joshua were spliced together, this may just be another version of the earlier narrative Joshua placing the whitened stones slabs with the law inscribed on them, and some scholars believe that this narrative may have originally been in an earlier location within the Book of Joshua^[21] Tetragrammaton redirects here. ...

Scholars consider it plausible for the sanctuary to have been pre-Israelite^[22]. It is possible that the name of the mountain is indicative of this, as it is thought that Gerizim may mean mountain of the Gerzites, probably referring either to the Geshurites or Gizrites, though mountain cut in two remains a possibility, but is thought far less likely^[23]. According to the narrative about Jotham in the Book of Judges, Shechem was a site where there was a sanctuary of El-Berith, also known as Baal-Berith, meaning God of the covenant and Lord of the covenant, respectively^[24]; scholars have suggested that the Joshua story about the site derives from a covenant made there in Canaanite times^[25]. In the narrative of Judges, the pillar that was in Shechem is seemingly significant enough to have given its name to a nearby plain^[26], and this pillar is thought to be likely to have been a totem of El-Berith; the Joshua story, of a stone being set up as a witness, simply being an attempt to provide an aetiology in accordance with later Israelite theology^[27]. Gezer was a town in ancient Israel. ... Jotham (Jehovah is perfect) is the name of two people of the Old Testament: 1. ... Book of Judges (Hebrew: Sefer Shoftim ספר שופטים) is a book of the Bible originally written in Hebrew. ...

In the Biblical narrative, the oak tree, seemingly next to the sanctuary, was evidently in existence as early as the time of the Patriarchs, as Jacob is described in the book of Genesis as having buried the idols of strange gods (formerly worshipped by his household) beneath it^[28]. According to a midrash, one of these Idols, in the shape of a dove, was later recovered by the Samaritans, and used in their worship on Mount Gerizim^[29]. Jacob Wrestling with the Angel – Gustave Doré, 1855 Jacob or Yaakov, (Hebrew: יַעֲקֹב, Standard  Tiberian ; Arabic: يعقوب, ; holds the heel), also known as Israel (Hebrew: יִשְׂרָאֵל, Standard  Tiberian ; Arabic: اسرائيل, ; Struggled with God), is the third Biblical patriarch. ... Genesis (‎, Greek: Γένεσις, meaning birth, creation, cause, beginning, source or origin) is the first book of the Torah, the Tanakh, and the Old Testament. ... Subfamilies see article text Feral Rock Pigeon beside Weiming Lake, Peking University Dove redirects here. ...

Post-exile history

After the end of the Babylonian Captivity, a large schism between the Samaritans and Judaism developed, with the Samaritans, but not the Jews, regarding Mount Gerizim as the holy place chosen by Yahweh^[30]. Subsequently, the Samaritans built a temple there, arguing that this was the real location of the Israelite temple which had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, probably in the 5th or 4th century BCE^[31]. Though it had been destroyed by his time, Josephus plainly states that the temple on Gerizim was similar to that in Jerusalem (prior to the Herodian expansion of the latter), and that it was surrounded by fortifications^[32]. Babylonian captivity also refers to the permanence of the Avignon Papacy. ... Schisms among the Jews are cultural as well as religious. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Nebuchadnezzar has several meanings: Nebuchadnezzar (also Nebuchadrezzar), the name of several kings of Babylonia: Nebuchadnezzar I of Babylon Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon, the best known of these kings, who conquered Aram and Israel. ... A fanciful representation of Flavius Josephus, in an engraving in William Whistons translation of his works Josephus (37 – sometime after 100 AD),[1] who became known, in his capacity as a Roman citizen, as Titus Flavius Josephus,[2] was a 1st-century Jewish historian and apologist of priestly and... A stone (2. ... Herod (‎, Greek: ), also known as Herod I or Herod the Great, was a Roman client king of Judaea (73 BC – 4 BC in Jericho)[1]. Herod is known for his colossal building projects in Jerusalem and other parts of the ancient world, including the construction of the Second Temple in...

The religious tension between the Jews and the Samaritans lead to the temple on Gerizim being destroyed by either John Hyrcanus in the 2nd century BC (according to Josephus) or by Simeon the Just (according to the Talmud), who was permitted to do so by Alexander the Great, the land at that time falling under Alexander's empire^[33]. However, the mountain evidently continued to be the holy place of the Samaritans, as it is mentioned as such by the Gospel of John^[34] and coins produced by a Roman mint situated in Nablus included within their design a depiction of the temple; surviving coins from this mint, dated to 138-161 CE, show a huge temple complex, statues, and a substantive staircase leading from Nablus to the temple itself^[35] John Hyrcanus (Yohanan Girhan) (reigned 134 BC - 104 BC, died 104 BC) was a Hasmonean (Maccabeean) leader of the 2nd century BC. Apparently the name Hyrcanus was taken by him as a reignal name upon his accession to power. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a. ... Alexander the Great (Greek: ,[1] Megas Alexandros; July 356 BC–June 11, 323 BC), also known as Alexander III, king of Macedon (336–323 BC), was one of the most successful military commanders in history. ... The Gospel of John is the fourth gospel in the canon of the New Testament, traditionally ascribed to John the Evangelist. ... MiNT (MiNT is Now TOS) is an alternative operating system (OS) kernel for the Atari ST computer and its successors which is free software. ...

Eventually, when Christianity became the dominant religion in the Roman Empire, Samaritans were barred from worshiping on Mount Gerizim. In 475 AD a church was built on its summit^[36]. In 529 AD, Justinian I made Samaritanism illegal, and arranged for a protective wall to be constructed around the church^[37]. As a result, the same year, Julianus ben Sabar lead a pro-Samaritan revolt, and by 530 AD had captured most of Samaria, destroying churches and killing the priests and officials. However in 531 AD, after Justinian enlisted the help of Ghassanids, the revolt was completely quashed, and surviving Samaritans were mostly enslaved or exiled. In 533 AD Justinian had a castle constructed on Mount Gerizim to protect the church from raids by the few disgruntled Samaritans left in the area^[38]. Christianity percentage by country, purple is highest, orange is lowest Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire at its greatest extent. ... It has been suggested that Ecclesia (Church) be merged into this article or section. ... (Latin: Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus, Greek: Ιουστινιανός;) commonly known as Justinian I, or (among Eastern Orthodox Christians) as Saint Justinian the Great; c. ... (Also known as Julian or Julianus ben Sahir) Messianic leader of the Samaritans. ... It has been suggested that Sebastia, Middle East be merged into this article or section. ... language|Arabic]]:الغساسنة) were [[Arab Christian|Arab it is assumed that the Ghassanids adopted the religion of Christianity from the native Aramaeans and Romans. ...

Archaeology

Mount Gerizim; archaeological research^[39]

As a result of the fortified church, and previous Samaritan temple, extensive ruins still exist at the somewhat plateau-like top of Gerizim. The line of the wall around the church can easily be seen^[40], as can portions of the former castle, and initial archaeological study of the site postulated that the castle built by Justinian had utilised stones from an earlier structure on the site (probably being the Samaritan temple)^[41]. In the centre of the plateau is a smooth surface, containing a hollow, which archaeologists consider to be reminiscent of dolmens found in southwestern Syria, and which Samaritans consider to be a portion of their former temple^[42]. Image File history File links Grizim_archiology3. ... Image File history File links Grizim_archiology3. ... Poulnabrone dolmen in County Clare, Ireland For the French TV miniseries, see Dolmen (TV miniseries). ...

A more substantial archaeological survey was undertaken in the middle of the 20th century, while the site was in the possession of Jordan, in the region of the mountain known as Tell el-Ras, situated on the northernmost peak at the end of the northern ridge. This excavation, which continued under Israel's jurisdiction, uncovered Corinthian columns, a large rectangular platform (65m by 44m) surrounded by 2m thick and 9m high walls, and an 8m wide staircase leading down from the platform to a marbled esplanade^[43]. The complex also has a series of cisterns in which Late Roman ceramics were found^[44]. These discoveries, now named Structure A, have been dated to the time of Hadrian, due to numismatics and external literary evidence, and are believed to be a temple dedicated to Zeus^[45]. The Corinthian order as used for the portico of the Pantheon, Rome provided a prominent model for Renaissance and later architects, through the medium of engravings. ... St Clair Beach and esplanade, Dunedin, New Zealand Promenade at Rizal Boulevard in Dumaguete City, Philippines. ... Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrianus (January 24, 76 – July 10, 138), known as Hadrian in English was Roman emperor from 117 – 138, as well as a Stoic and Epicurean philosopher. ... Numismatics is the scientific study of currency and its history in all its varied forms. ... The Statue of Zeus at Olympia Phidias created the 12-m (40-ft) tall statue of Zeus at Olympia about 435 BC. The statue was perhaps the most famous sculpture in Ancient Greece, imagined here in a 16th century engraving Zeus (in Greek: nominative: Zeús, genitive: Diós), is...

Underneath these remains were found a large stone structure built on top of the bedrock. This structure, now known as Structure B, nearly half cubic (21m by 20m in width and length, and 8.5m high), consists almost entirely of unhewn limestone slabs, fitted together without any binding material, and has no internal rooms or dividing walls^[46]. The structure was surrounded by a courtyard similar to the platform above it (being 60m by 40m in size with 1.5m thick walls), and was dated to during or before the Hellenic era by ceramics found in a cistern cut into the bedrock at the northern side^[47]. The excavating archaeologist considered Structure B to be the altar built by the Samaritans in the 5th or 6th century BC^[48].

See also

• Samaritanism

This does not cite any references or sources. ...

Notes and citations

1. ^ Matthew Sturgis, It aint necessarily so, ISBN 0-7472-4510-X
2. ^ Jewish Encyclopedia
3. ^ Photograph of this
4. ^ Jewish Encyclopedia
5. ^ ibid
6. ^ Jewish Encyclopedia
7. ^ Deuteronomy 27:4-8
8. ^ Peake's commentary on the Bible
9. ^ Deuteronomy 27:11-13
10. ^ ibid
11. ^ Peake's commentary on the Bible
12. ^ Deuteronomy 15-26
13. ^ Deuteronomy 28:3-6
14. ^ Deuteronomy 28:16-19
15. ^ Peake's commentary on the Bible
16. ^ ibid
17. ^ Joshua 8:31-35
18. ^ Jewish Encyclopedia
19. ^ Richard Elliott Friedman, Who wrote the Bible; Jewish Encyclopedia, Book of Joshua, Deuteronomy, et passim
20. ^ Joshua 27:1-27
21. ^ Peake's commentary on the Bible
22. ^ ibid
23. ^ Cheyne and Black, Encyclopedia Biblica
24. ^ Judges 9
25. ^ ibid; Peake's commentary on the Bible et passim
26. ^ Judges 9:6
27. ^ Cheyne and Black, Encyclopedia Biblica
28. ^ Genesis 35:4
29. ^ Jewish Encyclopedia
30. ^ Jewish Encyclopedia
31. ^ ibid, et passim
32. ^ Antiquities of the Jews vol. 9 (8:2), vol. 14 (6:2) vol. 18 (4:1)
33. ^ Jewish Encyclopedia
34. ^ John 4:20
35. ^ W.J. Bennett and R. Bull, Tell er-Ras, Publication of Archaeological Materials and Data from Mt. Gerizim, West Bank, 1998
36. ^ Cheyne and Black, Encyclopedia Biblica
37. ^ ibid; Jewish Encyclopedia
38. ^ ibid
39. ^ A clearer photograph of some of the remains, is available here
40. ^ Jewish Encyclopedia
41. ^ Cheyne and Black, Encyclopedia Biblica
42. ^ ibid
43. ^ W.J. Bennett and R. Bull, Tell er-Ras, Publication of Archaeological Materials and Data from Mt. Gerizim, West Bank, 1998
44. ^ ibid
45. ^ Robert J. Bull, The Excavations of Tell er Ras
46. ^ ibid
47. ^ W.J. Bennett and R. Bull, Tell er-Ras, Publication of Archaeological Materials and Data from Mt. Gerizim, West Bank, 1998
48. ^ Robert J. Bull, The Excavations of Tell er Ras

The Jewish Encyclopedia was an encyclopedia originally published between 1901 and 1906 by Funk and Wagnalls. ... The Jewish Encyclopedia was an encyclopedia originally published between 1901 and 1906 by Funk and Wagnalls. ... Richard Elliot Friedman is a writer and Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at UCSD. He is also Katzin Professor of Jewish Civilization: Hebrew Bible; Near Eastern Languages and Literatures. ...

External links

• The curses and blessings of Ebal and Gezirim, in isolation, at wikisource
• Photos of Mount Gerizim

Coordinates: 32°11′58″N 35°16′22″E / 32.19944, 35.27278 Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...