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, HaKetav VeHaKabbalahDevarim 27:2About R. Yaakov Mecklenburg

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, ?shadal?

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

The nation fulfilled Moshe's command in two stages.  Though the first stage took place immediately after entry into Israel, the completed ceremony only occurred later.