Image Details

Richard T. Nowitz

A flood of concrete and stone, the modern town of Nablus, pours through the gap between Mt. Gerizim, left and Mt. Ebal, right, in this aerial view from the east. Moses designated this place for the pronouncement of the blessing and the curse (Deuteronomy 11:26–29, 27:11–26), the consequences of obeying or transgressing the Lord’s commandments. Here Joshua conducted the ritual before representatives of the 12 tribes of Israel as Moses had instructed (Joshua 8:33–34). The biblical ceremony associates Mt. Gerizim with the blessing and Mt. Ebal with the curse.