Mount Gerizim

File:Grizim archiology3.jpg

Mount Gerizim; archaeological research

Mount Gerizim (Samaritan Hebrew Ar-garízim, Arabic جبل جرزيم Jabal Jarizīm, Tiberian Hebrew הַר גְּרִזִּים Har Gərizzîm, Standard Hebrew הַר גְּרִיזִּים Har Gərizzim) is a mountain in the West Bank near Nablus which is sacred to the Samaritan sect. The mountain is 2,849 feet (881 m) high, declines sharply to the north, and is sparsely covered at the top with shrubbery.

In the classical period, probably in the 5th or 4th century BCE, the Samaritans built a temple at the summit of the mountain. This became a focal point for their sect analogous to that played by Jerusalem in Judaism. The temple was surrounded by fortifications (comp. II Macc. v. 23), which survived the destruction of the temple itself (Josephus, "Ant." xiv. 6, § 2; xviii. 4, § 1; "B. J." iii. 7, § 32). The temple was destroyed by the Hasmonean king John Hyrcanus in the second century BCE but continues to be the center of Samaritan religion to this day.

Old view of Mount Gerizim

When Christianity became the dominant religion in the Roman Empire, Samaritans were barred from worshipping on Mount Gerizim. A church was built on its summit and a wall constructed to defend the church from Samaritan raiders. This was one of the main causes of the Samaritan revolt under Julianus ben Sabar.

See also

• Samaritanism

It is probable that Jesus preached to Mount Gerizim among the Samaritans who rebelled against Pilates and that he was arrested there, according to Flavius Josephus.

External links

• The curses and blessings of Ebal and Gezirim, in isolation, at wikisource