Gerizim
    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.



 Gerizim, cutters, hatchets