Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
A mountain of Samaria, about 3,000 feet above the Mediterranean. It was on the left of the valley containing the ancient town of Shechem (q.v.), on the way to Jerusalem. It stood over against Mount Ebal, the summits of these mountains being distant from each other about 2 miles (Deut. 27; Josh. 8:30-35). On the slopes of this mountain the tribes descended from the handmaids of Leah and Rachel, together with the tribe of Reuben, were gathered
together, and gave the responses to the blessing pronounced as the reward of obedience, when Joshua in the valley below read the whole law in the hearing of all the people; as those gathered on Ebal responded with a loud Amen to the rehearsal of the curses pronounced on the disobedient. It was probably at this time that the coffin containing the embalmed body of Joseph was laid in the “parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor”
(Gen. 33:19; 50:25). Josephus relates (Ant. 11:8, 2-4) that Sanballat built a temple for the Samaritans on this mountain, and instituted a priesthood, as rivals to those of the Jews at Jerusalem. This temple was destroyed after it had stood two hundred years. It was afterwards rebuilt by Herod the Great. There is a Samaritan tradition that it was the scene of the incident recorded in Gen. 22. There are many ruins on this mountain, some of which
are evidently of Christian buildings. To this mountain the woman of Sychar referred in John 4:20. For centuries Gerizim was the centre of political outbreaks. The Samaritans (q.v.), a small but united body, still linger here, and keep up their ancient ceremonial worship.
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
(cutters), a limestone mountain, 2855 feet high (800 feet above the valley at its foot), in Ephraim, near Shechem (Sychar), from which the blessings were read to the Israelites on entering Canaan. [See Ebal, Mount] According to the traditions of the Samaritans it was here that Abraham sacrificed Isaac, that Melchizedek met the patriarch, that Jacob built an altar, and at its base dug a well, the ruins of which are still seen. Some scholars think
there is ground for the first belief (so Smith); but careful observers of the locality discredit it and believe Moriah to be the spot. [See Moriah] Gerizim was the site of the Samaritan temple, which was built there after the captivity, in rivalry with the temple at Jerusalem. [See Samaritans] Gerizim is still to the Samaritans what Jerusalem is to the Jews and Mecca to the Mohammedans.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
cutters, hatchets
Schaff's Bible Dictionary
GER'IZIM, MOUNT, a mountain in Ephraim, near Shechem, from which the blessings were pronounced, as the curses were from Mount Ebal, Deut 11:29; Deut 27:1-13; Josh 8:30-33, Gerizim is 2855 feet above the level of the sea, and about 800 feet above Nablus (Shechem). It is separated from Ebal by a narrow valley. Six tribes were placed on Gerizim, and six on Ebal, Deut 27:12-13, the ark probably in the valley between them, and Joshua read the
blessings and cursings successively. Josh 8:33, Josh 8:35. The Levites on either side re-echoed them, and the people responded "Amen!" Deut 27:14-15. Gerizim was the scene of the first recorded parable — that of the trees and brambles. Jud 9:7-21. It was the site of the Samaritan temple, and referred to by the woman at the well. John 4:20. Samaritan tradition asserts that it is the place where Abraham offered Isaac, but this is not sustained by
the best authorities. It is now Jebel et Tur. See Moriah. Present Condition. — The mountain is composed chiefly of limestone. It has a large plateau on its summit, covered with ruins of cisterns, paved platforms, and on one side those of a castle. The whole mountain-top bears traces of having once been covered with houses. The small remnant of the Samaritan sect at Nablus performs annually the paschal sacrifice on the top of Gerizim according,
to the prescription of the book of Exodus 12. It is the only spot on earth where this Jewish festival is perpetuated in its primitive style. Dean Stanley and other travellers have visited the scene, and point out the striking resemblance to the Mosaic prescription. The amphitheatre formed by these two mounts, Gerizim and Ebal, is most suitable for assembling a vast body of people within the hearing of the human voice, and where all could see what
was being done. There is no other place like it in all Palestine. Numerous travellers have repeated the experiment of stationing persons on the opposite mounts, and heard the reading of the ten commandments by each party, and they were also heard by each other with great distinctness. See Ebal, Shechem.