Mount Gerizim (;
Samaritan Hebrew Aahr-gaarízem (always written as one word),
Arabic جبل جرزيم Jabal Jarizīm or
Jabal et Tur,
Tiberian Hebrew הַר גְּרִזִּים Har Gərizzîm,
Standard Hebrew הַר גְּרִיזִּים Har Gərizzim) is one of the two mountains in the immediate vicinity of the
West Bank city of
Nablus (
biblical Shechem), and forms the southern side of the valley in which Nablus is situated, the northern side being formed by
Mount Ebal. The mountain is one of the highest peaks in the West Bank and rises to 2849 feet (881 m) above
sea level, 228 feet (69.5 m) shorter than
Mount Ebal. In
Samaritan tradition, Mount Gerizim is held to be the highest, oldest and most central mountain in the world. The mountain is particularly steep on the northern side, is sparsely covered at the top with shrubbery, and lower down there is a
spring with a high yield of fresh water.