When Did the Ceremony on Mt. Eival Occur/2

When Was the Ceremony on Mt. Eival?

Exegetical Approaches

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Before the Conquest

The ceremony took place on the same day that the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and entered Israel.

Sources:Tosefta SotahSotah 8:6-7About the Tosefta, R. Yehuda and R. Eliezer in Yerushalmi SotahSotah 7:3About the Yerushalmi, Bavli SotahSotah 35bSotah 36aAbout the Bavli, RashiDevarim 27:2Yehoshua 4:3-9, 20Yehoshua 8:30-33About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, R. Yosef KaraYehoshua 8:30-33About R. Yosef Kara, RadakYehoshua 8:30-35About R. David Kimchi, R. BachyaDevarim 27:1-3About R. Bachya b. Asher

Mid-Conquest

The nation went to Mt. Eival after defeating the Ai and gaining access to the vicinity.

Sources:Ralbag?, AbarbanelDevarim 27:1About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel

After the Conquest

The Israelites first performed the ceremony after the 14 years of conquest and inheritance.

Sources:JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 5:1:19About Josephus, R. Yishmael in Yerushalmi SotahSotah 7:3About the Yerushalmi

Two Stages

Though the nation set up the stones on the very day that they crossed the Jordan, it was only after the conquest that they recited the blessings and curses.