a celebrated mountain in the tribe of Ephraim, near Shechem, over
against Mount Gerizim. These two mountains are within two hundred paces
of each other, and separated by a deep valley, in which stood the town
of Shechem. The two mountains are much alike in magnitude and form,
being of a semi-circular figure, about half a league in length, and, on
the sides nearest Shechem, nearly perpendicular. One of them is barren;
the other, covered with a beautiful verdure. Moses commanded the
Israelites, as soon as they should have passed the river Jordan, to go
directly to Shechem, and divide the whole multitude into two bodies,
each composed of six tribes; one company to be placed on Ebal, and the
other on Gerizim. The six tribes that were on Gerizim were to pronounce
blessings on those who should faithfully observe the law of the Lord,
and the six others on Mount Ebal were to pronounce curses against those
who should violate it, Deut. xi, 29, &c; xxvii, and xxviii; Joshua viii,
30, 31.
This consecration of the Hebrew commonwealth is thought to have been
performed in the following manner: The heads of the first six tribes
went up to the top of Mount Gerizim, and the heads of the other six
tribes to the top of Mount Ebal. The priests, with the ark, and Joshua
at the head of the elders of Israel, took their station in the middle of
the valley which lies between the two mountains. The Levites ranged
themselves in a circle about the ark; and the elders, with the people,
placed themselves at the foot of the mountain, six tribes on a side.
When they were thus disposed in order, the priests turned toward Mount
Gerizim, on the top of which were the six heads of the six tribes who
were at the foot of the same mountain, and pronounced, for example,
these words:--“Blessed be the man that maketh not any graven images.”
The six princes who were upon the top of the mountain, and the six
tribes who were below at its foot, answered, “Amen.” Afterward, the
priests, turning toward Mount Ebal, upon which were the princes of the
other six tribes, cried, with a loud voice, “Cursed be the man that
maketh any graven image;” and were answered by the princes opposite to
them and their tribes, “Amen.” The Scripture, at first view, seems to
intimate that there were six tribes upon one mountain, and six on the
other; but beside that it is by no means probable that the tribes of the
Israelites, who were so numerous, should be able to stand on the summits
of these two mountains, it would not have been possible for them to have
seen the ceremony, nor to have heard the blessings and curses in order
to answer them. Moreover, the Hebrew particle, in the original,
signifies, _near_, _over against_, as well as _at the top_, Joshua viii,
33. Accordingly, we may say, that neither Joshua, nor the priests or
tribes, went up to the top of the mountains, but the heads only, who in
their persons might represent all the tribes.
against Mount Gerizim. These two mountains are within two hundred paces
of each other, and separated by a deep valley, in which stood the town
of Shechem. The two mountains are much alike in magnitude and form,
being of a semi-circular figure, about half a league in length, and, on
the sides nearest Shechem, nearly perpendicular. One of them is barren;
the other, covered with a beautiful verdure. Moses commanded the
Israelites, as soon as they should have passed the river Jordan, to go
directly to Shechem, and divide the whole multitude into two bodies,
each composed of six tribes; one company to be placed on Ebal, and the
other on Gerizim. The six tribes that were on Gerizim were to pronounce
blessings on those who should faithfully observe the law of the Lord,
and the six others on Mount Ebal were to pronounce curses against those
who should violate it, Deut. xi, 29, &c; xxvii, and xxviii; Joshua viii,
30, 31.
This consecration of the Hebrew commonwealth is thought to have been
performed in the following manner: The heads of the first six tribes
went up to the top of Mount Gerizim, and the heads of the other six
tribes to the top of Mount Ebal. The priests, with the ark, and Joshua
at the head of the elders of Israel, took their station in the middle of
the valley which lies between the two mountains. The Levites ranged
themselves in a circle about the ark; and the elders, with the people,
placed themselves at the foot of the mountain, six tribes on a side.
When they were thus disposed in order, the priests turned toward Mount
Gerizim, on the top of which were the six heads of the six tribes who
were at the foot of the same mountain, and pronounced, for example,
these words:--“Blessed be the man that maketh not any graven images.”
The six princes who were upon the top of the mountain, and the six
tribes who were below at its foot, answered, “Amen.” Afterward, the
priests, turning toward Mount Ebal, upon which were the princes of the
other six tribes, cried, with a loud voice, “Cursed be the man that
maketh any graven image;” and were answered by the princes opposite to
them and their tribes, “Amen.” The Scripture, at first view, seems to
intimate that there were six tribes upon one mountain, and six on the
other; but beside that it is by no means probable that the tribes of the
Israelites, who were so numerous, should be able to stand on the summits
of these two mountains, it would not have been possible for them to have
seen the ceremony, nor to have heard the blessings and curses in order
to answer them. Moreover, the Hebrew particle, in the original,
signifies, _near_, _over against_, as well as _at the top_, Joshua viii,
33. Accordingly, we may say, that neither Joshua, nor the priests or
tribes, went up to the top of the mountains, but the heads only, who in
their persons might represent all the tribes.