Mount Hazor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mount Hazor (in Hebrew: Ramat Hazor) is an irregularally shaped plateau, marking the geographical boundary between Samaria to its north and Judea to its south. Its peak, called Baal-hazor in Hebrew and Tell Asur in Arabic reaches approx. 1,020 meters above sea level.

Its name is derived from the word for "courtyard", referring to the walled enclosures that this large land mass enabled ancients to construct. The peak housed a pagan chapel for worship of the Baal, who was considered "lord of the mountain" hence its name: "Baal-hazor".

The Genesis Apocryphon of the Dead Sea scrolls identifys Ramat Hazor as the site between Bethel and Ai where Abraham built an altar and called upon (i.e. invoked) the name of God (Gen. 12:1-9). At this site the accounts of Genesis 13 took place: "(14)Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward and southward and eastward and westward: (15) for all the land which thou see, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. (16) And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: So that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then may thy seed also be counted. (17) Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for unto you will I give it." Indeed, from its lofty peak the whole length and width of The Land can be easily viewed.