Joshua’s-Mount-Ebal-Altar
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
I am
delighted to provide a Scriptural & Archaeological study regarding Joshua’s
Altar on
Please Note: All verses in this study was
sourced from the JPS-1917 version of our beloved Tanakh!
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For interest,
long ago I was a part time archaeologist and found some amazing things back in
the 1960’s, all of which remained in
This study is
very much about the archaeological discovery at ‘El-Burnat’ which was uncovered on
‘Mount Ebal’ by
‘Adam Zertal’ together with researcher ‘Zvi Koenigsberg’ who presented a
compelling link between the ‘physical landscape of Israel’ and the early
narrative of the Tanakh ‘Joshua’s Altar on Mount Ebal’
(Joshua 8:30-32), being pre-Shiloh’s Tabernacle’s.
Indeed, this archaeological discovery provided
one of the most compelling physical anchors for early Scriptural history in the ‘Central Highlands of
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This next section which is in three parts will reveal all the interesting details of this amazing event, as well as providing all the relevant scriptural details!
1. The
Discovery at El-Burnat (
During the survey of the ‘Manasseh hill
country,’ Zertal uncovered a unique structure on a
ridge on the north-eastern slope of
Thus, let us
look at the details below:
Structure & Design: A massive rectangular altar was built of unhewn fieldstones measuring roughly 9 by 7 meters and standing over 3 meters high.
The Ramp: Access to the main platform was provided by a central inclined stone ramp, flanked by smaller secondary ramps. This matches the explicit scriptural mandate in Exodus 20:22 prohibiting steps leading to an altar “Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto Mine altar”.
Sacrificial Remains: Inside the altar framework were layers of ash and over 1,000 burned bone fragments. Faunal analysis revealed that the bones belonged exclusively to young ‘male sheep’, ‘goats’, ‘cattle’, and ‘fallow deer’ conforming strictly to the sacrificial laws (Leviticus 1). Obviously, pig bones were completely absent, distinguishing the site from typical Canaanite settlements.
Dating: Pottery assemblage (including collar-rim store jars) and scarabs date the primary usage of the site to Iron Age I (c. 1250–1150 B.C.E.).
2. Scriptural Alignment: The Covenant Ceremony.
The site strongly corresponds to two pivotal scriptural passages commanding and detailing the inaugural covenant ceremony in the Promised Land:
The Command (Deuteronomy 27:4-5):
“And it
shall be when ye are passed over the
The Fulfillment (Joshua 8:30-32):
“Then
Joshua built an altar unto יְהוָה - the LORD, the אֱלֹהִים - Elohim of Israel, in mount Ebal, as
Moses the servant of יְהוָה - the LORD commanded the children of
Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of unhewn stones, upon which no man had lifted up any iron;
and they offered thereon burnt-offerings unto יְהוָה - the LORD, and sacrificed
peace-offerings. And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the Law of
Moses, which he wrote before the children of
3. Sacred Geography: From Manasseh (Ebal) to Ephraim (
The
Jacob Blessing Ephraim and Manasseh (Genesis 48):
When Joseph brought his two sons to his aging father Jacob, he placed Manasseh (the firstborn) at Jacob’s right hand and Ephraim (the younger) at his left. However, Jacob deliberately crossed his hands.
“
The Historical & Tribal Shift:
The altar on
However, in alignment with Jacob’s prophetic
blessing placing ‘Ephraim over Manasseh’, the central leadership and spiritual
hub later transferred south to Shiloh, located in the
“And the
whole congregation of the children of
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Summary of Key Insights:
|
Feature: |
Mount Ebal (El-Burnat): |
Biblical / Historical
Significance: |
|
Location. |
Northern slope of |
|
|
Architectural
Style. |
Unhewn stones, inclined
main ramp. |
Fulfills Exodus 20:25–26 & Joshua 8:31. |
|
Faunal
Remains. |
Kosher sacrificial animals
only. |
Confirms distinct early
Israelite religious practice. |
|
Chronological
Role. |
Pre-Shiloh regional sanctuary. |
First covenant center before
the Tabernacle moved to |
I pray that the above is exciting for us all, as it provides further details of our remarkable Hebraic history!
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