Moreh

Moreh (meaning teacher or archer, possibly early rain) designates two distinct locations in the Old Testament. The first and better-known is the oak (or terebinth) of Moreh near Shechem, situated in the valley between Mounts Ebal and Gerizim. Here Abraham built his first altar in Canaan after God appeared to him with the promise, "To your offspring I will give this land" (Gen. 12:6–7). The site was later referenced in the law as a landmark for Israel's entry into the land (Deut. 11:30). The oak of Moreh at Shechem had sacred associations throughout Israel's history: it was there that Jacob buried foreign idols beneath it (Gen. 35:4) and Joshua erected his memorial stone (Josh. 24:26). The second location, the Hill of Moreh, lay near Jezreel and was the site where the Midianite army camped before Gideon's famous night attack (Judg. 7:1). These two sites share a name but belong to different regions and historical contexts.