For those who might not have realized the association, this website’s title, Smooth Stone, is based upon the Bible story of David and Goliath, as recorded in 1 Samuel 17.

David was a shepherd, a brave man who rose to the challenge of the Philistine giant, Goliath, who himself was a taunting, arrogant, but ultimately beheaded warmongerer. You can read more about David, his five smooth stones, and Goliath in an article I wrote here.

Samson is another great figure in our Holy Jewish Bible who interacted with the Philistines. He was known for his great strength and bravery, but the places in which, according to tradition, he lived and acted are not as well known.

Eyal Davidson, a researcher and tour guide at the Yad Ben Tzvi Institute, has written an article documenting his visits to the home grounds of Samson, from Samson’s grave in Tel Tzora to the altar of his father, Manoach, where his barren mother received word of her pregnancy. Eyal writes:

Read more »

Professor Adam Zertal is an archaeologist and professor at Haifa University. Click here for the audio of Prof. Adam Zertal describing his discovery of Joshua’s Altar on Mount Ebal.

What is significant about Mount Ebal?

When the Jews first returned to the Land of Israel under Joshua’s leadership, they built an altar to God at Mount Ebal near Shechem (Joshua 8:30). Later, Jews made the yearly pilgrimage to Shilo where the ark was kept (I Samuel 1:3). The ark was subsequently captured by the Philistines, returned to the Jews, and remained for 20 years at Kiryat Yearim (I Samuel 7:2). Apparently no need was sensed to keep the ark at a particular site or declare one site as the central focus of worship.

The Ki Tavo parsha portion mentions Mt. Ebal. It includes bringing to the Temple as an offering the first fruits of the Seven Species special to the Land of Israel, Declaration of tithes, the Almighty designating the Jewish people as His treasured people (Deut. 26:16 -19), the command to set up in the Jordan River and then on Mount Ebal large stones which had the Torah written upon them in 70 languages, the command to have a public ratification of the acceptance of the Law from Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal; the Torah then sets forth the blessings for following the Law and the curses for not following it, and concludes with Moshe’s final discourse.

In Mark Twain’s Excursion to the Holy Land, Egypt, Crimea, Greece and Intermediate Points of Interest, Brooklyn, February 1st, 1867, he writes about his stay in Mt. Ebal in Chapter XLVII.:

Joseph became rich, distinguished, powerful — as the Bible expresses it, “lord over all the land of Egypt.” Joseph was the real king, the strength, the brain of the monarchy, though Pharaoh held the title. Joseph is one of the truly great men of the Old Testament.

In Chapter LI, Mark Twain writes,

At two o’clock we stopped to lunch and rest at ancient Shechem, between the historic Mounts of Gerizim and Ebal, where in the old times the books of the law, the curses and the blessings, were read from the heights to the Jewish multitudes below.

Verse 28:46 of Deuteronomy tells us the importance of serving the Almighty with “joy and a good heart.” The last verse of the portion instructs us:

“You shall fulfill the words of this covenant and do them so that you will succeed in all that you do!”