What is Elon Moreh?

Elon Moreh is a name most people have never heard, but it’s a place of deep significance and one that you might want to consider adding to your itinerary next time you visit Israel.

Where is Elon Moreh?

Elon Moreh is located in one of the world’s most controversial regions: the West Bank. This region, more accurately named “Judea and Samaria,” is the biblical heartland of Israel, with a large part of the Bible taking place here. This highly contested location is just an hour or so drive north of Jerusalem and is worth every minute of the drive.

Why is Elon Moreh Special?

In Genesis 12, this exact location is mentioned when God spoke His covenant to Abraham. At the beginning of the chapter, it is said that Abraham will become a great nation and that those who bless him will be blessed and those who curse him will be cursed. Later, we find the verse relevant to today’s discussion. As Abraham was traveling, he passed by Shechem (modern-day Nablus) and to the oaks of Moreh, also known as Elon Moreh. This is when God verbally spoke this to Abraham:

“To your offspring I will give this land.”

It’s noted that when this was spoken to Abraham, the Canaanites were still living in the land, but that makes it all the more special to us today. When you summit this mountain, you can see an abundance of land, even to Mount Hermon on clear days. However, while you’re gazing over the vastness of the land, you will see countless villages that are not the homes of Jewish families. Here’s why that can be considered special to us today: just as in the days of Abraham, there are others dwelling in the land, meaning that this is most likely the same view Abraham would have had when he heard the covenant spoken to him.

Not only this, but when you visit this essential spot, you’ll see one notable tree—an oak tree. If you can recall, Abraham heard this covenant while at the oaks of Moreh. Realistically speaking, it would be physically impossible for this to be the same oak tree that Abraham would have seen; however, it is likely that the prominent tree that you can sit under today is a descendant of that tree. That’s pretty neat, isn’t it?

But Mount Hermon is not the only thing you can see from Elon Moreh…

Joshua’s Altar and the Mountains of Blessing and Cursing

When you traverse the mountaintop, you’ll be able to see two more highly significant sights: the Mountains of Blessing and Cursing and Joshua’s Altar.

When looking to the west, you’ll be able to see Joshua’s altar on the Mount of Cursing, Har Eval. This is where Joshua erected an altar to the Lord in Joshua 8, following the defeat of Ai. You can find out more about Joshua’s altar and its significance here. While you can see it, it may be hard to pick out if you haven’t been to the area before, so we recommend going with someone who is familiar with it. In fact, we take every single volunteer group to Elon Moreh to view this site and discuss its relevance. You can find all of our volunteering opportunities here.

In Deuteronomy, the twelve tribes stood opposite each other on two mountains, Har Bracha (also known as Har Gerizim) and Har Eval. While standing there, they proclaimed the blessings and the curses of following the word of God. Interestingly, the two mountains, together with the valley between them, form a natural amphitheater. This means that it’s entirely realistic to believe that the two groups of Israelites would have been able to easily hear each other from the mountains.

Why is Elon Moreh Important to Christians?

While sites like the Garden Tomb and the Garden of Gethsemane are popular spots for Christians, places like the Mounts of Blessing and Cursing and Elon Moreh are not. The reason these places matter is that they add high levels of validity to the Bible and to the Jewish people’s right to the entire land of Israel.

Right now, the world is attempting to remove the Jewish people from the place where a large portion of the Bible took place. Going to these places and recognizing the relevance and the undeniable connection of the land to the Jewish people is opposing the hostile plans of much of the world.

So what are you waiting for? Come to Israel’s biblical heartland to see firsthand where the Bible took place and support the Jewish people today! You can see these spots (and many more) by joining one of our tours or volunteer trips. Find out more here.