Hermon: A peak, the eastern prolongation of the Anti-Lebanon range, reaching
to the height of about 9,200 feet above the Mediterranean. It marks
the north boundary of Palestine
(Deuteronomy 3:8; 4:48; Joshua 11:3,17; 13:11; 12:1)
and is seen from a great distance. It is about 40 miles north of the
Sea of Galilee. It is called "the Hermonites"
(Psalms 42:6) because it
has more than one summit. The Sidonians called it Sirion, and the
Amorites Shenir
(Deuteronomy 3:9; The Song of Solomon 4:8) It is also called Baal-hermon
(Judges 3:3; 1 Chronicles 5:23) and Sion
(Deuteronomy 4:48) There is every probability
that one of its three summits was the scene of the transfiguration
(q.v.). The "dew of Hermon" is referred to
(Psalms 133:3) Its modern
name is Jebel-esh-Sheikh, "the chief mountain." It is one of the most
conspicuous mountains in Palestine or Syria. "In whatever part of
Palestine the Israelite turned his eye northward, Hermon was there,
terminating the view. From the plain along the coast, from the Jordan
valley, from the heights of Moab and Gilead, from the plateau of
Bashan, the pale, blue, snow-capped cone forms the one feature in the
northern horizon." Our Lord and his disciples climbed this "high
mountain apart" one day, and remained on its summit all night, "weary
after their long and toilsome ascent." During the night "he was
transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun." The next
day they descended to Caesarea Philippi.
