HEBAL. — Mountain (938 m.) to the north of the valley of Shechem, where, after entering the Promised Land, Joshua erected standing stones and inscribed on them a copy of the Law; there he also raised an altar, renewed the covenant between the tribes, and pronounced the Blessings (Josh. 8:30–32). In the Samaritan Pentateuch the name H. is tendentiously replaced by Garizim, so that all sacred memories are transferred to this mountain and the place is authenticated by Moses himself (Deut. 27:2–8). For the Samaritans, Mount H. is the mount of curses (see GARIZIM).
The present-day Arabic name (Ġebel es-Slemijjeh) derives from a much-venerated cave where, it is said, the body of es-Slemijjeh was deposited, having been transported by air from Cairo.