📖 Biblical Definition
Mount Ebal stood in central Canaan opposite Mount Gerizim, with the city of Shechem nestled in the valley between. Moses commanded that, upon entering the land, six tribes stand on Ebal to pronounce the curses for breaking covenant, and six on Gerizim to pronounce the blessings (Deuteronomy 11:29; 27:11-26). Joshua faithfully obeyed: he built an altar of uncut stones on Ebal, offered burnt offerings, and inscribed the law of Moses on stones for all the people to read (Joshua 8:30-32). Ebal teaches that the covenant comes with two edges — blessing and curse — and that any nation that takes God’s name must answer to both. Christ bore the Ebal-curse for His people (Galatians 3:13).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Ebal — the mountain of cursing, opposite Mount Gerizim.
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Mount Ebal forms the northern wall of the valley of Shechem; Gerizim is the southern. At Israel's entrance into the land, Joshua executed Moses' command: half the tribes blessed from Gerizim, half cursed from Ebal, with the ark and the law between.
📖 Key Scripture
Deuteronomy 27:13 — "And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse."
Deuteronomy 11:29 — "Thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal."
Joshua 8:30 — "Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal."
Joshua 8:33 — "Half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Cursing reduced to old-covenant relic; the corresponding altar on Ebal forgotten.
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Modern grace teaching wants Gerizim without Ebal — blessing without the warning of curse. Scripture refuses the split. Israel was commanded to hear both, on the same day, in the same valley.
And astonishingly, Joshua built the altar on Ebal — the mountain of cursing — not on Gerizim. The blood was shed where the curse was spoken. That is the gospel pattern from the start.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew 'Ebal — bare, stony hill.
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Usage
"The altar was built on Ebal — mercy planted on the mountain of cursing."
"Gerizim and Ebal were preached the same day; do not separate what God joined."
"When the curse is spoken on Ebal, the blood answers from the altar on Ebal."