What is so important about Mount Hermon? This well-known mountain is both controversial and mysterious. Some of the most significant, historical events happened around the tallest mountain in Israel. Its name is interpreted to literally mean mountain cluster. This snowy mountain range has been referred to by a variety of names.
Sirion (Sidonians – Deut. 3:9)
Sion (Deut. 4:48)
Senir (Amorites – Deut. 3.9)
Hermonium (plural for Hermon)
Baal Hermon (Judges 3:3, Enoch 6:6)
Mount of Oath (1 Enoch 6)
ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN
Interestingly, there are three main peaks in this range, with Mount Hermon being the highest. The size of this range is about 30 miles long and 15 miles wide. It lies in the upper corner of Golan Heights, the northern tip of Israel, which borders Syria and Lebanon. However, Golan Heights is a disputed area and at this time the UN has declared a buffer zone for this region. At the base of the mountain forms the headwaters of the river Jordan.
It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore. Psalm 133:3
TRANSFIGURATION
Mount Hermon is the location that is believed to be the mount of transfiguration as referenced in Matthew 17:1-8 and 2 Peter 1:16-18. In the book of Matthew, the disciples were said to be at Caesarea Philippi which is at the base of the mountain. This event was right before the scriptures reference the transfiguration.
It is also referenced in Mark 9, that the disciples were alone on the mountain. This is significant because some scholars believe that Mount Tabor could have been the other possible location of the transfiguration. However, according to the historian Josephus, Mount Tabor was inhabited and surrounded by a wall, around the time of Jesus. This makes Mount Hermon the more likely private location.
And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them. Mark 9:2
ANAKIM
Mount Hermon is also where Joshua defeated the Anakim (Joshua 11-15). Anakim were the sons of Anak, but the name itself, most likely means long neck or tall. The Hebrews thought of this powerful race to be decendants of the Nephilim, who are described in Genesis 6. Consequently, these sons of Anak were believed to be giants (Numbers 13:22-33).
However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. Numbers 13:28
Another term used for these giants is Rephaim, which translates as ‘terrible ones’. This group of people lived in Canaan and the surrounding areas. Their king, Og, ruled over approximately 60 fortified cities, all of which were eventually captured by the Israelites (Deuteronomy 3).
So we took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, from the Valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon (the Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, while the Amorites call it Senir), all the cities of the tableland and all Gilead and all Bashan, as far as Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. (For only Og the king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bed was a bed of iron. Is it not in Rabbah of the Ammonites? Nine cubits was its length, and four cubits its breadth, according to the common cubit.) Deuteronomy 3:8-11
The cubit is a measurement taken from the elbow to the middle finger of the palm of the hand. The common cubit is understood to be about 18 inches, however the measurement varied between different ancient cultures. There is also a royal or sacred cubit which is longer. Many believe that Goliath, the giant defeated by David, was also a descendant of the Anakim. We see from scripture, that he was 6 cubits in height, which would have been about 9 feet, 6 inches tall!
And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. 1 Samuel 17:4-7
God insisted not to be concerned with these giants when He had delivered them out of Egypt, but the Israelites would not listen and were too afraid. Their fear and mistrust caused them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years and many were unable to enter the promise land because they did not trust God.
And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land — the men who brought up a bad report of the land — died by plague before the Lord. Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive. Numbers 14:36-38
HIGH PLACES
Many mountain ranges are referred to as the high places in Biblical times. There was also an ancient temple located on Mount Hermon, known as Qasr Antar. This area is believed to be where the fallen angels came down and made an unholy oath against God to fornicate with human women, as referenced in the book of Genesis, Jude and 1 Enoch (a non-Biblical source). Interestingly, this very region is where the Israelites were battling these giants.
What’s curious is why these evil spirits like to gather in high places? The high places described in the Bible, are often places of idle worship and corrupt practices. These places were at times destroyed by righteous rulers.
And he (Hezekiah) did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. 2 Kings 18:3-4
PRINCE OF THE AIR
It is said that Satan is prince of the air (Ephesians 2:2). Perhaps this is why those who worship the enemy, like going to high places? That and to be rebellious to God.
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. Ephesians 2:1-2
The high places can also represent power. We know that Satan is always trying to be like God. Not only that, but in the book of Luke it describes that unclean spirits are actually searching the air.
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’” Luke 11:24
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, Satan brought him to the pinnacle of the temple, the highest point, to tempt Him.
And he took Him to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.” Luke 4:9
Satan is constantly trying to be like God, and in the process, he tries to corrupt and twist what God has created.
BOUNDARIES
This mountain range also acted as a boundary, specifically the northern boundary, of the Amorites discussed in scripture. It is also the boundary that was given to Abraham before the land was claimed.
The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord. Genesis 13:14-18
ALPHA & OMEGA
Why are these high places so important to the enemy and why is there so much quarrel about Mount Hermon? Is it because this location is sacred and the enemy keeps trying to take this territory? The area is still highly contested, to this day. The fact that Jesus goes upon this mountain and is transfigured, meets with ancient forefathers, and the voice of God is heard from heaven, should get our attention. God is the Alpha and Omega, not Satan. God will have the last word.
…a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” Luke 9:34b-35
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