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HERMON.—A mountain on the north-eastern border of Palestine, the culminating point of the range of Anti-Lebanon, rising to an elevation of 9200 ft. above the sea. Its dome-like summit, usually covered with snow till late in summer, can be seen from almost every part of Palestine. Jesus in His youth must have often seen it from the hill west of Nazareth, and, during His ministry, from the Sea of Galilee. It is not mentioned by name in the Gospels, but is generally believed to be the ‘high mountain’ of Mat_17:1, Mar_9:2, and the ‘mountain’ of Luk_9:28 where the Transfiguration took place. This was probably not on the summit, which could be reached only by long and hard climbing, but on one of the elevated platforms on the southern slope. That Hermon, rather than Tabor (on which there was then a fortified city), is the ‘high mountain’ referred to, seems clear from the fact that the conversation (Mat_16:21-28) which preceded the Transfiguration by six days was closely connected with Peter’s confession; and this occurred at Caesarea Philippi (Mat_16:13-18), which stood just at the base of Hermon by the springs of Jordan. See also art. Transfiguration.
Literature.—For description of Hermon, see Robinson, BRP [Note: RP Biblical Researches in Palestine.] iii. 344, 357; Stewart, Land of Israel, 296–301; Conder, Tent-Work, ch. 8; SWP [Note: WP Memoirs of the Survey of W. Palestine.] (‘Jerusalem’ Volume, Appendix, and Volume of Special Papers).
W. W. Moore.