Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal were chosen to pronounce blessings and curses because they stood as visual, geographical symbols of the covenant choice set before Israel… obedience leading to blessing and disobedience leading to curse. These two mountains, located near Shechem, face each other across a valley, creating a natural amphitheater where the people could hear and participate in the covenant renewal ceremony.
“And it shall be, on the day when you cross over the Jordan… that you shall set up these stones… and you shall write on them all the words of this law. Then you shall build an altar to the Lord your God… And there you shall offer peace offerings…” (Deuteronomy 27:2–7)
Mount Gerizim, associated with blessing, was fertile and lush. Mount Ebal, associated with cursing, was barren and rocky. Their physical contrasts reinforced the message: blessing brings fruitfulness, disobedience brings barrenness. The ceremony included six tribes standing on each mountain and the Levites reading the covenant aloud with the people responding.
“These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people… and these shall stand on Mount Ebal to curse… And the Levites shall speak with a loud voice and say to all the men of Israel… ‘Cursed is the one who…'” (Deuteronomy 27:12–15)
This public proclamation made the covenant terms clear and binding. It was a solemn moment of accountability. Gerizim and Ebal became lasting witnesses that the land itself would respond to Israel’s obedience or rebellion.
