Ebal
Stony. (1.) A mountain 3,076 feet above the level of the sea, and 1,200 feet above the level of the valley, on the north side of which stood the city of Shechem (q.v.). On this mountain six of the tribes (Deut 27:12, Deut 27:13) were appointed to take their stand and respond according to a prescribed form to the imprecations uttered in the valley, where the law was read by the Levites (Deut 11:29; Deut 29:4, Deut 29:13). This mountain was also the site of the first great altar erected to Jehovah (Deut 27:5–8; Josh 8:30–35). After this the name of Ebal does not again occur in Jewish history. (See Gerizim.)
(2.) A descendant of Eber (1 Chr 1:22), called also Obal (Gen 10:28).
(3.) A descendant of Seir the Horite (Gen 36:23).
Named in the Bible
8 verses
- Genesis 36:23 And the children of Shobal were these; Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
- Deuteronomy 11:29 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal.
- Deuteronomy 27:4 Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaister them with plaister.
- Deuteronomy 27:13 And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
- Joshua 8:30 Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,
- Joshua 8:33 And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.
- 1 Chronicles 1:22 And Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
- 1 Chronicles 1:40 The sons of Shobal; Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon; Aiah, and Anah.
From Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), by Matthew George Easton.
