The town of Shechem is between Mount Gerizim to the south and Mount Ebal to the north. It guarded the passage between these two mountains. Although the ceremony to renew the covenant happened at Shechem, neither the book of Joshua nor Judges mentions that Israel conquered the town. Every Israelite was present. They placed the ark of the covenant in the valley between the two groups. This ceremony was a promise to practice the covenant God made with Israel at Mount Sinai.