English: Six tribes on Mount Gerizim and six on Mount Eival, and the Leviim and the Ark in the middle. They turned their faces toward Gerizim and began with the blessing, and toward Eival and began with the curse.
In Sifrei / Sotah: The ceremonial geography is fixed: half the nation on each mountain, Leviim and Ark in the valley between, alternating blessing and curse with the people’s Amen.
Type of Learning
Custom (ceremonial arrangement).
What Is Learned
The blessing/curse rite was staged with six tribes on each mountain and the Leviim between them, facing each side in turn.