Bible Meaning: A sanctuary, abrupt
Strong's Concordance #H2768
Mount Hermon, at a height of 9,232 feet (2,814 meters), is the highest point in modern Syria. Considered a buffer zone between Syria and Israeli-occupied territory, it is the home to the highest permanently manned United Nations post in the world.
In the Old Testament, Mount Hermon was also called Sirion by the Sidonians (Phoenicians). In the KJV Bible, the Amorite named it Shenir or Senir (Strong's #H8149). These two words, found in Deuteronomy 3:9, 1Chronicles 5:23, Song of Solomon 4:8 and Ezekiel 27:5 both mean "to be pointed, peak or snow mountain."
Water melting from the mountain's peak feeds streams that eventually come together to form the Jordan River. Hermon marked the northern-most territory conquered by the Israelites (Deuteronomy 3:8, Joshua 11:17). The Israelite tribe of Manasseh was given land up to and including the mount as part of their inheritance in the Promised Land (Joshua 13:11, 1Chronicles 5:23).
A Questionable Event
The spurious book of Enoch, purported to be the writings of Noah's great-grandfather, was likely written from 300 to 100 B.C. It contains a passage stating two hundred angels agreed to a pact where they would marry beautiful women and produce children. Their mutual agreement, bound by a curse, was stated to take place on Mount Hermon (Enoch 6:1 - 6).
The Transfiguration
Jesus' transfiguration is the event where, in vision, three of his disciples saw him, Moses and Elijah in their glorified state in God's kingdom (Mark 9:1 - 10, Matthew 17:1 - 9, Luke 9:27 - 36). Prior to this unique miracle the Lord and all his disciples were in Caesarea Philippi which is located close to the northern Israelite city of Dan (Matthew 16:13, Mark 8:27).
It is entirely likely, given the Lord took Peter, James and John to a high mountain (Matthew 17:1, Mark 9:2), that the transfiguration took place on Mount Hermon. The mount is located roughly 16 miles (25.7 kilometers) northeast of Caesarea Philippi.
Important Verses
Deuteronomy 3:8 - 9
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 . . .
Deuteronomy 4:47 - 48
And they possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, which were on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;
From Aroer, which is by the bank of the river Arnon, even unto mount Sion, which is Hermon . . .
Joshua 11:15 - 17
As the Lord commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.
So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same;
Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.
Joshua 13:1, 7, 11
Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed . . .
Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh . . . And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah . . .
Psalm 133:3
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
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.
Song of Solomon 4:8
Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
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.