Formalizing the Covenant

            As so often in the Old Testament, ‘mount’ is a little generous for Ebal and Gerizim.  According to one source Ebal rises about 1400 feet above the valley floor, and Gerizim rises several hundred feet over the same valley.  What we have here is not really the Grand Canyon nor even the Shenandoah Valley.  What we do have is a sort of natural amphitheater, with a fairly narrow valley framed by two sloping hills.  So, the picture we should have in our minds is the tribes of Israel arrayed on the slopes of the hills, filling in toward the valley floor.

            They’re arranged this way for a covenant renewal/affirmation ceremony.  They are, in a sense, summarizing who they are and affirming the consequences of disobedience to the covenant before them.  Their ‘Amens’ after each of the curses is sort of like signing and signing and signing when you get a loan or a mortgage.  Your signature says, “Yes, I agree to that stipulation.  Yes, I agree with that statement.  Yes, I agree that that’s a fair penalty if I default.”  The scene carries on for several chapters.