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Mount Ebal Altar Site

Zertal's Iron I stone structure identified by some as Joshua's altar

Conquest & Judges · temple / altar · Debated · found 1980

Rectangular fieldstone structure on a rocky hillside
Photo: Bukvoed · CC BY 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons — The stone structure on Mount Ebal excavated by Adam Zertal.

Found 1980 — Adam Zertal (University of Haifa), found during the Manasseh Hill Country Survey; excavated 1982–89

Where El-Burnat, northeast slope of Mount Ebal, above Nablus (Shechem) (West Bank (Palestinian Territories))

Dates from c. 1250–1140 BCE · Iron Age I · Conquest / early Judges

Now at Site (partly damaged by road works in 2021); finds at the University of Haifa and Israel Antiquities Authority

How Mount Ebal Altar Site was found

Zertal noticed a large stone heap on a northern shoulder of Mount Ebal during survey. Excavation revealed a rectangular stone structure about 9 by 7 m, filled with layers of ash, stones, and burned animal bones, with a ramp on one side and two courtyards, surrounded by a larger enclosure wall.

What it is

A structure of unhewn fieldstones with walls about 1.4 m thick, filled with ash and bones of young male cattle, sheep, goats, and fallow deer, all kosher species. A sloped ramp leads to the top. Two Egyptian-style scarabs from the reign of Ramesses II help date the site to the late 13th–12th century BCE.

Why it matters for the Bible

Devarim 27 and Yehoshua 8 say Israel built an altar of uncut stones on Mount Ebal and read the Torah there. Zertal argued this is that altar: the right mountain, the right period, unworked stones, a ramp instead of steps (Shemot 20:26), and only clean animals in the bones. Critics such as Aharon Kempinski called it a watchtower or farmhouse. Many archaeologists now accept it as an early Israelite cult site while remaining cautious about naming it Joshua's altar.

Debated: An Iron I cultic site is widely accepted; identification as Joshua's altar is contested.

The Hebrew word: meez-BAY-ach

מִזְבֵּחַ

מִזְבֵּחַ is pronounced meez-BAY-ach and means altar (place of slaughter/sacrifice) (Strong's H4196).

People this discovery connects to

Places

Events

Covenant ceremony on Ebal and Gerizim (Deuteronomy 27; Joshua 8:30-35)

Mount Ebal Altar Site in Scripture

Deuteronomy 11:29 First mention of Mount Ebal in Scripture.

Deuteronomy 27:4-6 Moshe commanded the altar on Ebal, of whole stones, with burnt offerings; the fill contained ash and burned bones of clean animals.

Joshua 8:30-31 Yehoshua built an altar of uncut stones on Mount Ebal; Zertal's structure is built of unhewn fieldstones on that mountain.

Questions people ask

What is Mount Ebal Altar Site?
A structure of unhewn fieldstones with walls about 1.4 m thick, filled with ash and bones of young male cattle, sheep, goats, and fallow deer, all kosher species. A sloped ramp leads to the top. Two Egyptian-style scarabs from the reign of Ramesses II help date the site to the late 13th–12th century BCE.

When was Mount Ebal Altar Site discovered?
It was found in 1980 by Adam Zertal (University of Haifa), found during the Manasseh Hill Country Survey; excavated 1982–89, at El-Burnat, northeast slope of Mount Ebal, above Nablus (Shechem).

Where is Mount Ebal Altar Site today?
Site (partly damaged by road works in 2021); finds at the University of Haifa and Israel Antiquities Authority.

Which Bible verses does Mount Ebal Altar Site relate to?
Deuteronomy 11:29, Deuteronomy 27:4-6, Joshua 8:30-31.

Is Mount Ebal Altar Site authentic?
An Iron I cultic site is widely accepted; identification as Joshua's altar is contested.

Related discoveries

Sources

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