Mount Hermon-view from Masade

Mount Hermon is actually a cluster of mountains with three distinct summits. At 9,230 feet (2814m) above sea level, Mount Hermon is the highest mountain in Israel, Lebanon, and Syria. Only a part of the southern slopes of Mount Hermon is under Israeli control since 1967. The highest point of Hermon inside Israel is Mizpe Shelagim, the “snow observatory,” at 7,295 ft. The Hermon range covers an area of about 1000 square km, of which about 70 km² are under Israeli control. Although Mount Hermon is called the "mountain of snow”, the snow is seasonal (winter and spring). The mountain is the only place with snow skiing in Israel. Being one of the most sensitive regions in the border between Syria and Israel with many strategic observation points, you can find heavy presence of army and plenty of warning signs like “Military Zone No Entry”, “Danger-Mines” etc.

The snow-covered Hermon is the source of Jordan River and mentioned many times in Bible. In the Old Testament, Mt Hermon is known as Senir, Sirion and Baal Hermon (Deuteronomy 3:9; Judges 3:3; Psalms 29:6; 1 Chronicles 5:23; Song 4:8; Ezekiel 27:5). Mt Hermon was the northern boundary of the Land promised by God to Israel (Deuteronomy 3:8) and also was the northern limit of the Conquest under Joshua (Joshua 11:17; 12:1; 13:5).

"The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name" (Psalms 89:12). "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" (Psalms 133:1-3). See also Psalms 42:6 and Song of Solomon 4:8

In New Testament, it was on the southern base of Mount Hermon at the city of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus revealed to His disciples His purpose to build His Church and to go to Jerusalem to die and be resurrected (Matthew 16:13-21; Mark 8:27). Mount Hermon is also speculated as a possible site of the Transfiguration. See my blog entries for Mt Tabor also. The photograph below was taken from the Druze village of Masade in Golan Heights. Mt Hermon is visible from different parts of Golan Heights and I have also added photographs taken from Nimrod Fortress. See below.