At over 900 meters in height, Mt. Ebal is the highest mountain in Samaria (Shomron). It figures prominently in Old Testament history: "Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses. There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua copied on stones the Law of Moses, which he had written. All Israel were standing on both sides of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, facing those who carried it--the priests, who were Levites. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel. Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law--the blessings and the curses-just as it is written in the Book of the Law. [Joshua 8:30-34].

Excavations have recently begun on Mt. Ebal. Among the fascinating findings discovered at the site are an altar and stones that fit this Biblical description!