Topical Encyclopedia Garizim is a significant mountain located in the central region of ancient Samaria, near the modern city of Nablus. It holds considerable historical and religious importance in the biblical narrative and is frequently mentioned in the context of Israelite worship and covenantal ceremonies.Biblical Significance: Mount Garizim is first prominently mentioned in the Book of Deuteronomy as the site where the Israelites were commanded to pronounce blessings upon entering the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 11:29 , it is written, "And when the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal." This directive was fulfilled in Joshua 8:33 , where it states, "All Israel, foreigners and citizens alike, with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on either side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD, facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had formerly commanded for the blessing of the people of Israel." Religious and Cultural Context: Mount Garizim holds a special place in Samaritan tradition. The Samaritans, an ethnoreligious group closely related to the Jews, regard Garizim as their most sacred mountain, believing it to be the true location chosen by God for His holy temple. This belief is rooted in their interpretation of the Pentateuch, which they hold as their sole scriptural authority. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs from the Jewish Masoretic Text, particularly in its emphasis on Mount Garizim as the central place of worship. The significance of Mount Garizim is further highlighted in the New Testament during Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. In John 4:20-21 , the woman says to Jesus, "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where one must worship is in Jerusalem." Jesus responds, "Believe Me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem." Archaeological and Historical Insights: Archaeological excavations on Mount Garizim have uncovered remains of a Samaritan temple, which is believed to have been constructed during the Persian period and later destroyed by the Hasmonean king John Hyrcanus in the 2nd century BC. These findings corroborate historical accounts of the mountain's religious significance to the Samaritans and their ongoing veneration of the site. Theological Implications: Mount Garizim serves as a symbol of the blessings of obedience to God's covenant. Its juxtaposition with Mount Ebal, the site of curses, underscores the biblical theme of choice and consequence. The mountain's role in the Samaritan-Jewish religious divide also illustrates the broader theme of worship and the centrality of Jerusalem in Jewish thought, as contrasted with Samaritan beliefs. In summary, Mount Garizim is a site of profound historical, religious, and theological importance, serving as a testament to the enduring legacy of biblical events and their impact on subsequent religious traditions. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia GARIZIMgar'-i-zim. Library The Census and the Journey of the Holy Family Table of Contents Apparitions on Occasion of the Death of Jesus. Whether Adoration Requires a Definite Place? The Early Life of St. Joseph The Flight into Egypt and St. John the Baptist in the Desert Appendix v. Rabbinic Theology and Literature Ancestors of the Blessed virgin Thesaurus GarizimGarizim. Gareb, Garizim. Garland . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia GARIZIM. gar'-i-zim. See GERIZIM. Gareb, Garizim. Garland . Reference Bible. /g/garizim.htm - 6k Garland (6 Occurrences) Gareb (3 Occurrences) Gerizim (4 Occurrences) Mount (311 Occurrences) Resources Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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