hor Summary and Overview

mountain. (1.) One of the mountains of the chain of Seir or Edom, on the confines of Idumea (Num. 20:22-29; 33:37). It was one of the stations of the Israelites in the wilderness (33:37), which they reached in the circuitous route they were obliged to take because the Edomites refused them a passage through their territory. It was during the encampment here that Aaron died (Num. 33:37-41). (See AARON T0000002.) The Israelites passed this mountain several times in their wanderings. It bears the modern name of Jebel Harun, and is the highest and most conspicious of the whole range. It stands about midway between the Dead Sea and the Elanitic gulf. It has two summits, in the hallow between which it is supposed that Aaron died. Others, however, suppose that this mountain is the modern Jebel Madurah, on the opposite, i.e., the western, side of the Arabah. (2.) One of the marks of the northern boundary of Israel (Num. 34:7, 8). Nowhere else mentioned. Perhaps it is one of the peaks of Lebanon.

(mountain), Mount. 1. The mountain on which Aaron died. #Nu 20:25,27| It was "on the boundary line," #Nu 20:23| or "at the edge," ch. #Nu 33:37| of the land of Edom. It was the halting-place of the people next after Kadesh, ch. #Nu 20:22; 33:37| and they quitted it for Zalmonah, ch. #Nu 33:41| in the road to the Red Sea. ch. #Nu 21:4| It was during the encampment at Kadesh that Aaron was gathered to his fathers. Mount Hor is situated on the eastern side of the great valley of the Arabah, the highest and most conspicuous of the whole range of the sandstone mountains of Edom, having close beneath it on its: eastern side the mysterious; city of Petra. It is now the Jebel Nebi-Harim "the mountain of the prophet Aaron." Its height is 4800 feet above the Mediterranean; that is to say, about 1700 feet above the town of Petra, 4800 above the level of the Arabah, and more than 6000 above the Dead Sea. The mountain is marked far and near by its double top, which rises like a huge castellated building from a lower base, and is surmounted by a circular dome of the tomb of Aaron, a distinct white spot on the dark red surface of the mountain. The chief interest of Mount Hor consists in the prospect from its summit, the last view of Aaron --that view which was to him what Pisgah was to his brother. 2. A mountain, entirely distinct from the preceding, named in #Nu 34:7,8| only, as one of the marks of the northern boundary of the land which the children of Israel were about to conquer. This Mount Hor is the great chain of Lebanon itself.

HOR , MOUNT(the mountain). 1. Now called by the Arabs Jehel Nehy Harun, "mountain of the prophet Aaron." It was the halting-place of the Israelites between Kadesh, Num 20:22; Num 33:37, and Zalmonah, Num 33:41, when they were journeying "by the way of the Red Sea to compass the land of Edom," Num 21:4, and where Aaron died. Num 20:24-29; Num 33:38-39; Deut 32:50. "It is one of the very few spots connected with the wanderings of the Israelites which admit of no reasonable doubt. There Aaron died in the presence of Moses and Eleazar, there he was buried, and there Eleazar was invested with the priesthood in his stead. The mountain is marked far and near by its double top, which rises, like a huge castellated building, from a lower base, and on one of these is the Mohammedan chapel, erected out of the remains of some earlier and more sumptuous building, over the supposed grave. There was nothing of interest in the chapel; only the marks of Mussulman devotion, ragged shawls, ostrich eggs, and a few beads. These were in the upper chamber. The great high priest, if his body be really there, rests in a subterraneous vault below, hewn out of the rock, and in a niche now cased over with stone, wood, and plaster. From the flat roof of the chapel we overlooked his last view -that view which was to him what Pisgah was to his brother." -Dean Stanley. Situation and Physical Features.-The Scriptures describe Mount Hor as "in the edge" -i.e., on the boundary-line- of Edom. Num 20:23; Num 33:37. Edom or Mount Seir comprehended the whole Mt. Hor and Aaron's Tomb. of the sandstone range of mountains which bounds the Arabah on the east and extends nearly from the southern extremity of the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Akabah. About midway between these two points, some 50 miles distant from each, is the highest and most conspicuous mountain of the range, which is without doubt the Mount Hor upon which Aaron died. Mosera, Deut 10:6, must have been close to the mountain. The altitude of the summit is 4800 feet above the Mediterranean, 4000 feet above the Arabah, and 6000 feet above the surface of the Dead Sea. These are the English measurements. The mountain, which is ascended by an exceedingly steep path, has two peaks, and on the eastern of these (4360 feet above the Mediterranean, according to Baedeker) is situated the tomb of Aaron (Kabr Harun), to which pilgrimages are made. Here the Arabs formerly offered sacrifices, and Stephens, an early American traveller, saw the remains of an altar and indications of such sacrifices. The tomb of Aaron is a small building measuring 28 by 33 feet and surmounted by a white dome, as is usual over saints' tombs. The interior consists of two chambers, one above the other. In the upper are four large pillars and a stone sarcophagus. Steps lead down to the lower chamber, which is perfectly dark. At the end is a recess covered by grating, which purports to be the real tomb. The impression of one on the spot is that Aaron's death took place in the small basin between the two peaks. Trumbull proposes Jehel Madurah for Mt. Hor. Since Aaron had his last view of earth from the summit of Hor, as Moses did from Pisgah, the prospect is regarded with great interest. The view includes the Arabah, the mountains of southern Palestine and Edom, and the Dead Sea. Beneath the mountain, on the eastern side, is Petra, a place of great historic interest. See Sela. 1. Mount Hor, evidently distinct from the one above, is once mentioned, Num 34:7-8, as one of the northern boundaries of the Promised Land. Some would understand by this the whole of the Lebanon range as marking the northern boundary of the country-. Porter makes it the extreme northern summit of the Lebanon range, which bounds "the entrance of Hamath" on the south. It is 10,000 feet high, emphatically Hor-hahar, "the mountain of the mountain," the loftiest mountain in Syria.

1. The mount in which Aaron died (Numbers 20:22-23; Numbers 20:25-28). An archaic form of har, "mountain." The only instance in which the proper name comes first, "Hor the mountain," the mount upon the mountain. It "rises like a huge castellated building from a lower base" (Stanley, Sinai and Israel, 86). Now Jebel Harun" by the coast (or 'edge') of the land of Edom" (Numbers 33:37-38). On the E. side of the Arabah, close to Petra. The white chalk summit rises on a dark red sandstone bore rock, 5,300 feet above the Mediterranean. On the northernmost of its two summits is shown a square building with dome, called the tomb of Aaron. A flight of steps cut in the rock leads up a precipice to it. The roof is decorated with ostrich shells and such like ornaments. It is an ordinary Moslem weh; over the door is an inscription stating that the building was restored by Es Shimani, son of Mohammed Calain, sultan of Egypt, by his father's orders, in the year 739 of the Hegira; square almost, 28 ft. by 33 ft., having two chambers one above the other. The host encamped in the Arabah below at Moseroth (Numbers 33:30), or Mosera (Deuteronomy 10:6). (See AARON.) His death resembled Moses' in being on a mountain, but differed from it in being in the presence of Moses and Eleazar on the mount to which they ascended "in the sight of all the congregation." Moses' death was in solitude, but with Gilead's heights, and Benjamin's hills, and the rich Jordan valley in view; whereas Aaron's last looks rested on rugged Edom, and chalky mount Seir, and the red sandstone rocks round Petra, and the dreary Arabah. 2. The name Hor is applied to the whole western crest of Lebanon, 80 miles long from the E. of Sidon to the entering in of Hamath (Kalat el Husn close to Hums, i.e. ancient Hamath); the northern boundary appointed to Israel (Numbers 34:8).