The so-called altar is on Mt. Ebal, not Gerizim. In any case since the
Samarian tradition is that Joshua built his altar an Mt. Gerizim, Zertal's
site is not relevant to the issue.
Yigal Levin
-----Original Message-----
From: b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Uri Hurwitz
Sent: Sunday, May 16, 2010 7:46 PM
To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [b-hebrew] Genesis 30:20-30
What about Adam Zartel's Altar site there? His argument does not seem
to have total support, but neither total denial (a la Kempinski!).
The findings of large number of "Clean" animal bones near the site would
seem to validate his argument for an existence of a cultic site there,
obviously much earlier than the Persian period.
Uri Hurwitz Garden City
Yigal Levin wrote, inter alia:
< ...I'd point out
that there is no evidence, textual or archaeological, of there being an
important cultic site on Mt. Gerizim before the Persian Period,...>