SG Heritage Dictionary

Hermon Encyclopedia Britannica

HERMON, the highest mountain in Syria (9150 feet above the Mediterranean), an outlier of the Antilebanon. The name ∣iθ"}∏, “separate,” is perhaps due to its isolated position. The Sidonians called it Sirion, and the Amorites Shenir (Deut. iii. 9;. It is probably the “high mountain” near Caesarea Philippi where the Transfiguration occurred (Mark ix. 2). The modern name is Jebel esh Sheikh, or “chief mountain.” It is also called Jebel eth Thelj, “snowy mountain.” The ridge of Hermon, rising into a dome-

'Eppηs εφρa<τε τpeιs μεγl<rτas δυvdμειs ειvaι∙ τδ τoυ fyμ ∣ τov κal δημιουργού θεοΰ όνομα μίαν θεότητα είπεν είναι . . . δώ καϊ εκλήθη ύπδ των Αιγυπτίων Τρισμέγιστος Έρμης....

shaped summit, is 20 miles long, extending north-east and south-west. The formation is a hard dark-grey crystalline limestone belonging to the Neocomian period, and full of fossils. The spurs consist in some cases of white chalk covering the limestone, and on the south there are several basaltic outbreaks. The mountain in spring is covered with snow, but in autumn there is occasionally none left, even in the ravines. To the height of 500 feet it is clothed with oaks and brush, while luxuriant vineyards abound. Above the snow limit the mountain is bare and covered with fine limestone shingle. The summit is a plateau from which three rocky knolls rise up, that on the west being the lowest, that on the south-east the highest 1 On the south slope of the latter are remains of the small temple or sacellum described by St Jerome. A semicircular dwarf wall of good masonry runs round this peak, and a trench excavated in the rock may perhaps indicate the site of an altar. On the plateau is a cave about 25 feet square, with the entrance on the east. A rock column supports the roof, and a building once stood above. The view from Hermon is very extensive, embracing all Lebanon and the plains east of Damascus, with Palestine as far as Carmel and Tabor. On a clear day Jaffa may also be seen. Other small temples are found on the sides of Hermon, of which twelve in all have been explored. They face the east, and are dated by architects about 200 A.D. The most remarkable are those of Deir el , Ashaiyir, Hibbar^ιyeh, Hosn Nihα, and Tell Thatha. At the ruined town called Rukhleh on the northern slopes are remains of a temple, the stones of which have been built into a church. A large medallion 5 feet in diameter, with a head supposed to represent the sun-god, is built into the wall Several Greek inscriptions occur among these ruins. Foxes, wolves, and the Syrian bear are commonly found on Hermon, with various kinds of game. In the 12th century Psalm Ixxxix. 12 was supposed to indicate the proximity of Hermon to Tabor. The conical hill immediately south of Tabor was thus named Little Hermon, and is still so called by some of the inhabitants of the district.

9th ed. Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 11, p. 751
[490 words — estimated reading time: 3 minutes]

Hermon Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

a celebrated mountain in the Holy Land, often spoken of in Scripture. It was in the northern boundary of the country, beyond Jordan, and in the territories which originally belonged to Og, king of Bashan, Joshua xii, 5; xiii, 5. The Psalmist connects Tabor and Hermon together, upon more than one occasion, Psalm lxxxix, 12; cxxxiii, 3; from which it may be inferred that they lay contiguous to each other. This is agreeable to the account that is given us by travellers. Mr. Maundrell, in his journey from Aleppo, says that in three hours and a half from the river Kishon, he came to a small brook near which was an old village and a good kane, called Legune; not far from which his company took up their quarters for the night, and from whence they had an extensive prospect of the plain of Esdraëlon. At about six or seven hours’ distance eastward, stood, within view, Nazareth, and the two mountains Tabor and Hermon. He adds that they were sufficiently instructed by experience what the holy Psalmist means by the dew of Hermon; their tents being as wet with it as if it had rained all night, Psalm cxxxiii, 3.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary
[200 words — estimated reading time: 2 minutes]

King James Bible KJV Bible

Berean Standard Bible BSB Bible

16 KJV and 14 BSB verses contain “Hermon”

Deuteronomy 3:8

And we took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side Jordan, from the river of Arnon unto mount Hermon;

At that time we took from the two kings of the Amorites the land across the Jordan, from the Arnon Valley as far as Mount Hermon—

Deuteronomy 3:9

(Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion; and the Amorites call it Shenir;)

which the Sidonians call Sirion but the Amorites call Senir—

Deuteronomy 4:48

From Aroer, which is by the bank of the river Arnon, even unto mount Sion, which is Hermon,

extending from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley as far as Mount Siyon (that is, Hermon),

Joshua 11:3

And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.

to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites at the foot of Hermon in the land of Mizpah.

Joshua 11:17

Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.

from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, as far as Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon at the foot of Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and struck them down, putting them to death.

Joshua 12:1

Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east:

Now these are the kings of the land whom the Israelites struck down and whose lands they took beyond the Jordan to the east, from the Arnon Valley to Mount Hermon, including all the Arabah eastward:

Joshua 12:5

And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all of Bashan up to the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

Joshua 13:5

And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baal-gad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.

the land of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo-hamath.

Joshua 13:11

And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;

also Gilead and the territory of the Geshurites and Maacathites, all of Mount Hermon, and all Bashan as far as Salecah—

Judges 3:3

Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon unto the entering in of Hamath.

the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath.

1 Chronicles 5:23

And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land: they increased from Bashan unto Baal-hermon and Senir, and unto mount Hermon.

Now the people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were numerous. They settled in the land from Bashan to Baal-hermon (that is, Senir, also known as Mount Hermon).

Psalms 42:6

O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

O my God, my soul despairs within me. Therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon— even from Mount Mizar.

Psalms 89:12

The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.

North and south You created; Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name.

Psalms 133:3

As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

It is like the dew of Hermon falling on the mountains of Zion. For there the LORD has bestowed the blessing of life forevermore.

Song of Solomon 4:8

Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of the leopards.

Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon! Descend from the peak of Amana, from the summits of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards.

Sirach 24:13

I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree upon the mountains of Hermon.