THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
Bibliography: Harnack, Geschichte, i. 152-155, 200, i. 1, pp. 534-535, ii. 2, pp. 281-2S2; C. W. F. Walch, Historic der Ketzereien, i. 552, Leipsic, 1762; J. L. von Mosheim, Commentatio de rebus Christianis, p. 453, Helmstadt, 1753, Eng. transl., Commentaries on the Affairs of the Christians before the Time of Constantine the Great, London, 1SI3-35; C. Hesselberg, Tertullians Lehre, Dorpat, 1S4S; A. Hauck, Tertullians Leben und Schriften, pp. 259 sqq., Erlangen, 1S77; C. P. Caspari, Kirchenhistorische Anecdota, pp. 225 sqq., Christiania, 1883; Kriiger, History, passim; DCB, iii. 1-3; KL, v. 1900-02.
HERMON : The Old Testament name for a mountain which bounded the Amorite kingdom of Og on the north (Deut. iii. 8; iv. 48) and also the territory of East Manasseh (Josh. xii. 1). It must therefore be sought in the neighborhood of Dan and the sources of the Jordan. The Targums on Deut. iii. 9 and Cant. iv. 8 call it tur taiga, " Snow mountain," corresponding with Jabal al-Talj, the modern name of the mountain north of the Jordan sources and east of the Wadi al-Taim. According to Deut. iii. 9 the Phenician name was Siryon and the Amoritie name Sen ir, the latter corresponding with the Assyrian Saniru where Shalmaneser II. defeated Hazael of Damascus and denoting the Anti-Lebanon range, applied therefore to Hermon as connected on the north with Anti-Lebanon. The Siyon of Deut. iv. 48 is suspected to be a mistake for Siryon. The Hebrew name, Hermon, comes from a root meaning to be forbidden, implying that the mountain in early times was a celebrated sanctuary or holy place.
The main body of the mountain runs north and south, with the highest point very near the middle; to the south it slopes to the Jordan sources, the upper portion falling off to the Nahr Banias. It therefore overlooks on the south the upper Jordan valley and the table-land of the Jaulan. On the north its summit sinks to a highland 3,600-4,000 feet above sea-level. The east and southeast sides are abrupt, the western and northwestern sides slope more gradually. On the summit is a small table-land 435 yards in diameter, from which rise three peaks, two on the east and one on the west. The one on the southeast still shows traces of ruins, which from their character suggest that they are the remains of a sanctuary, in all probability belonging to the sun-god.
The formation of the mountain is limestone, with outbreaks of basalt both on the east and the west At Mejdel al-Shems the lower Syrian Jura rocks come to the surface. The upper part is either entirely bare and decomposed into rubble by atmospheric influences, or in places clothed with low shrubs. At an elevation of about 3,750 feet there is a thick growth of trees, partly firs, partly fruit-trees, with stretches of tragacanths and shrubs On the lower slopes vineyards are numerous at least on the western and southern sides. The winter snow-line begins at an elevation of 3,250 feetbut the summer sun melts all away except in the deep clefts. The upper portions are hollowed out into underground reservoirs which furnish the sources of the streams of the region, particularly of the Jordan. The region is noted for its refreshing dew (Ps. exxxih. 3) and for its wealth of animal life (Cant. iv. 8). The western slopes support great flocks of goats.
Only the western and southern slopes have historic significance. Peoples passed by its northern sides to live at the south; so the early Amorites and Hivites (Josh. xi. 3), the Itureans in the second pre-Christian century, and in the seventeenth century the Druses, all of whom have left traces in the present religions of the region. Baal-hermon is to be sought at the eastern or southeastern foot (I Chron. v. 23), and denotes a sanctuary, perhaps the Paneion of the Greeks, the modern Banias. Baalgad, also a holy place, lay in the Lebanon valley north or northwest of Hermon (Josh. xi. 17). Mizpah is probably to be sought on the west slope (Josh. xi. 3, 8). (H. Guthe.)
Bibliography: Reland, Palaestina, pp. 323 sqq.; J. L. Porter, Five Years in Damascus, i. 287 sqq., London, 1855; C. R. Conder, Tenl Work in Palestine, chap, viii., New York, 1880; W. M. Thomson, The Land and the Book, vol. ii., New York, 1882; The Survey of Western Palestine, Jerusalem, published by the PEF, London, 1884; J. G. Wetzstein, Das batanaische Giebelgebirge, pp. 9-13, Leipsic, 1884; F. Noetling, Der Jura am Hermon, Stuttgart, 1887; G. E. Post, The Flora of Syria, Palestine and Sinai, Beirut, 1896; K. Baedeker, Palestine and Syria, New York, 1906. Robinson, Biblical Researches, iii. 357; DB, ii. 352-353; EB, ii. 2021-23; JE, vi. 355-356; and the literature under JKashan.
Genealogical Table. . Herod the Great. Ancestry and Youth (§1). The Winning of His Kingdom (§ 2). First Period of His Reign, 37-27 B.C. (§3).