Mount Gerizim is a significant geographical and theological landmark in the biblical narrative, located in the region of Samaria, near the ancient city of Shechem. It holds a prominent place in the history of Israel, particularly in the context of covenantal blessings and the religious practices of the Samaritans.

Biblical Significance

Mount Gerizim is first mentioned in the context of the covenant renewal ceremony commanded by Moses. In Deuteronomy 11:29 , Moses instructs the Israelites: "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 is further detailed in Deuteronomy 27, where the tribes of Israel are divided, with six tribes standing on Mount Gerizim to pronounce blessings and six on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses.

The actual fulfillment of this command occurs in Joshua 8:33 : "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 commanded earlier, to bless the people of Israel."

Religious and Historical Context

Mount Gerizim holds a special place in Samaritan tradition. The Samaritans, an ethnoreligious group closely related to the Jews, regard Mount Gerizim as their holy mountain, believing it to be the true location chosen by God for His temple, rather than Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. This belief is rooted in their version of the Pentateuch, which emphasizes Gerizim's significance.

The mountain's religious importance is highlighted in the New Testament during Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. In John 4:20 , 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." This conversation underscores the longstanding religious dispute between Jews and Samaritans regarding the proper place of worship.

Archaeological and Geographical Features

Mount Gerizim rises to an elevation of approximately 2,890 feet (881 meters) above sea level, providing a commanding view of the surrounding region. Its proximity to Shechem, an ancient city of great historical and biblical importance, adds to its significance. Archaeological excavations on Mount Gerizim have uncovered remains of a Samaritan temple, dating back to the Persian period, which aligns with the Samaritan tradition of worship on the mountain.

Cultural and Theological Implications

The blessings pronounced on Mount Gerizim symbolize the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, emphasizing obedience and the resulting divine favor. The mountain serves as a tangible reminder of God's promises and the importance of faithfulness to His commandments.

In Christian theology, Mount Gerizim's role in the narrative of Jesus and the Samaritan woman highlights the transition from localized worship to a more universal understanding of worship "in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). This encounter signifies the breaking down of barriers between Jews and Samaritans and points to the inclusive nature of the gospel message.

Mount Gerizim remains a site of pilgrimage and religious significance for the Samaritan community today, continuing to serve as a testament to its enduring legacy in the biblical and historical landscape.Deuteronomy 11:29
And it shall come to pass, when the LORD your God has brought you in to the land where you go to possess it, that you shall put the blessing on mount Gerizim, and the curse on mount Ebal.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Judges 9:7
And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Samaria. Sychem.
... And it is seated in a valley between the mountains Gerizim and Ebal: and in it are
about a hundred Cutheans observing the law of Moses only, and they are ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 56 samaria sychem.htm

Gilgal, in Deuteronomy 11:30 what the Place Was.
... So also the words of Moses may very well be rendered in the like sense, 'Are not
those mountains, Gerizim and Ebal, beyond Jordan, over-against Gilgal, or ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 88 gilgal in deuteronomy.htm

The Altar on Mount Ebal.
... Mounts Ebal and Gerizim are two rugged mountains that face each other in Samaria.
When the Israelites advanced thus far, they remembered the words of Moses. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/the altar on mount ebal.htm

Joshua's Conquest.
... Along the entire coast line there is a continuous coast plain. There are many
mountains, the most important being Hermon, Carmel and Gerizim. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter viii joshuas conquest.htm

Six Cities
... The famous mountains of Ebal and Gerizim rose on either side, from the slopes of
which the blessings and the curses of the law were proclaimed in the ears of ...
/.../macduff/the cities of refuge or the name of jesus/ii six cities.htm

The Crowning of Abimelech
... they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted ...
of Shechem set liers in wait for him on the tops of the mountains, and they ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/iii the crowning of abimelech.htm

The Woman of Samaria
... wildernesses of sandy desert; and on the north, the mighty mountains of Hermon ... of
their old idolatry, and built themselves a temple on Mount Gerizim, by Samaria ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxvi the woman of.htm

A Death in the Desert
... central mountain masses of Ephraim and Manasseh, where Ebal and Gerizim lift their ...
Jerusalem and Bethlehem lie, and, through some gap in the mountains, a gleam ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a death in the desert.htm

The Syrian Persecution.
... to Jupiter, as was also that of the Samaritans on Mount Gerizim, the Sabbath was ...
Others fled, and lived in the mountains, lurking in caves, and feeding on wild ...
/.../yonge/the chosen people/lesson xvii the syrian persecution.htm

The Story of the Stranger at the Well
... over the mountains straight through Samaria. One morning while he was on his journey,
he stopped to rest beside an old well at the foot of Mount Gerizim, not ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of the stranger.htm

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