There’s another interesting and mystical connection I want to point out concerning the two hilltops of Ebal and Gerizim the 12 tribes of Israel ascended to pronounce the blessings and curses.
Let’s take a quick journey to the past all the way back to Exodus chapter 39.
“They made shoulder-pieces for it, joined together; they were joined together at the two ends. The decorated belt on the vest, used to fasten it, was of the same workmanship and materials — gold; blue, purple and scarlet yarn; and finely twined linen — as Adonai had ordered Moshe. They worked the onyx stones, mounted in gold settings, engraving them with the names of the sons of Israel as they would be engraved on a seal. Then he put them on the shoulder-pieces of the vest to be stones calling to mind the sons of Israel, as Adonai had ordered Moshe”.-Exodus 39:4-7
These particular verses are talking about the Ephod the High Priest wore.
The Ephod was an elaborate garment worn by the High Priest which had two large stones mounted onto each of its shoulder straps.
Now what was interesting about these stones is that the names of the tribes of Israel were engraved on them (6 each).
Are you noticing the connection here?
Can you see how the two hilltops of Ebal and Gerizim are represented by the two stones on the High Priest’s shoulders?
And you had better believe that the 6 tribes inscribed on each of the stones of the ephod were the exact same set of 6-tribes who respectively ascended Mount Ebal and Gerizim.
Indeed, the Torah is an organic and living document with all of its parts interconnected resulting in one complete and harmonious whole.
An AMEN to the amen!
Sure is. This is another of what I’m calling a “split work” I hadn’t seen before. Thanks much! What was the plain in between, I’m wondering?
Another interesting item is that these two mountains are called “The Shoulder Mountains” because between them is the Shechem Valley (the burial place of Joseph).
Today it is off-limits to Israelis, but in the day when the 12 tribes, 6 on each mountain, declared the blessings and the curses, what they shouted aloud would have resounded down the valley and all the inhabitants would have heard it.
They may not have seen the handwriting on the wall, but they heard the message in the mountain: here we come and this is what to expect.
Thanks Steven. Is the reason that area is off-limits to Israelis because it’s currently occupied by the Palestinians?