The Samaritans, the earliest Jewish sect; their history, theology, and literature . n for terms of years, they are prevented by Muslimfanaticism; in such case the solemnities, including the Pass-over sacrifice, are celebrated in the town.^^ We must ac-cordingly make a diversion to observe Mount Gerizim andthe sanctity which it holds in Samaritan eyes. The article of faith in Gerizim is the great differentiatingtenet between the Samaritans and the Jews; if they yield thisheresy, teaches a Talmudic tractate, they can be readmittedto the true Israel.^*^ Doubtless since prehistoric times boththe m
The Samaritans, the earliest Jewish sect; their history, theology, and literature . n for terms of years, they are prevented by Muslimfanaticism; in such case the solemnities, including the Pass-over sacrifice, are celebrated in the town.^^ We must ac-cordingly make a diversion to observe Mount Gerizim andthe sanctity which it holds in Samaritan eyes. The article of faith in Gerizim is the great differentiatingtenet between the Samaritans and the Jews; if they yield thisheresy, teaches a Talmudic tractate, they can be readmittedto the true Israel.^*^ Doubtless since prehistoric times boththe mountains of Shechem, Ebal and Gerizim, were countedamongst the most holy of * the highplaces of Palestine;as we have seen the Egyptian traveller of the Xlllth Cen-tury B. C, makes an allusion to one of them.^^ Of the 28 See quite fully on this subject, Mills, op. cit. 240. See furtherChap. XIV, § 12. -9 For the interruption of the visits to Gerizim, see p. 141; for thecelebration of the Passover in Shechem, A, et E. 72. 30 See Chap. XII, §§ 2, 6; Chap. XL 31 See above, p. o o THE MODERN SAMARITANS 35 two Ebal is the higher (3076 ft. above the sea), and themore commanding in its noble prospect, while Gerizim hasan altitude of only 2848 ft.^- According to Hebrew tra-dition, upon the conquest of the land, these two mountainsformed the amphitheatre for the great convocation of allIsrael, when the curses were recited from Ebal, and theblessings from Gerizim {Dt. 2j\ Jos. 8, 3off), The com-minations alone are given in the story of the rite, a factwhich gives greater prominence to Ebal; this was felt bythe Samaritans doubtless because of Jewish taunts, andthey deliberately altered the text in Dt. 2y, 4, so that thestones of Jordan and the altar should be reared on Geri-zim.^^ There can be no doubt, despite the assent of sucha scholar as Kennicott, that the Samaritan reading is afalsification. But the reason why Ebal was chosen for thecurses, which appear as the more important
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