Mountains of Scripture

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Importance: 10%

The Big Idea

Mountains are an important place of interaction between God and humans. Over and over God has important meetings and interactions with His people on and around mountains.

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list of mountains in the bible

Garden of Eden (a mountain garden)

Not as easy to identify as other mountains but the description of rivers “flowing out” denotes a mountain spring within the garden. This paints the picture of Eden being a mountain garden (Gen 2:10-14).

Mount Ararat

Settling place of Noah’s ark after the flood and the place God gives Noah and creation a covenant of protection (Genesis 8:4, Genesis 9:8-17).

References as a rather remote area (2 Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37:38; Jeremiah 51:27).

Mount Moriah or Mount Zion

This important mount is a hill west of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

It is synonymous with Mt. Moriah, where Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:2).

King David captured and reclaimed Mount Zion from the Jebusites, it became known as the City of David (2 Samuel 5:1-12).

David built an altar here that later becomes the site for the Temple of Solomon (2 Samuel 24:24-25, 2 Chronicles 3:1, 1 Kings 8:1-13).

Mount Sinai or Mount Horeb

This is a place of great importance in Scripture, and the events that happened here are referred to many times. God told Moses to “set apart this place as holy,” and “the glory of Yahweh dwelt on Mount Sinai” (Exodus 24:16).

Horeb is a general name for the whole mountain range of which Sinai was one of the summits (Exodus 3; 17:6; 33:6; Psalm 106:19, etc.)

This is the area where Moses first spoke to God in the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-6).

From Rephidim (Exodus 17:8-13) the Israelites journeyed forward into “the desert of Sinai,” and encamped there “before the mountain.” Here God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses on the Mountain (Exodus 19, 20 31, 34, Numbers 3, Nehemiah 9:13,14).

Mount Carmel

Where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:16-46, 2 Kings 2:25).

It is ranked with Bashan on account of its rich pastures and beauty (Isaiah 33:9; Jeremiah 50:19; Amos 1:2, Song of Songs 7:5 ).

There are many caves in its sides, which at one time were inhabited by many monks. These caves are referred to in Amos 9:3.

Mount Esau

A rare mountain only mentioned in Obadiah 1:8, 9, 19, 21. It is used to contrast the pride and high dwellings of the Edomites with the true place of salvation on Mount Zion.

Mount of Olives

So called from the olive trees with which its sides are clothed, it is a mountain ridge on the east of Jerusalem (1 Kings 11:7; Ezek. 11:23; Zechariah 14:4), from which it is separated by the valley of Kidron.

Many events happened on this mount during Jesus’ time on earth. This is where He went to pray before His crucifixion and from where He ascended to heaven. This is also where David escaped from his persecutors (Luke 22:39, Matthew 26:36-46, Acts 1:6-14, 2 Samuel 15:30).

Other Old Testament mentions or allusions to it are: Zechariah 14:4, 1 Kings 11:7, 2 Kings 23:13, Neh. 8:15, Ezek. 11:23.

Mount Tabor

It was here that Barak encamped before the battle with Sisera (Judges 4:6-14).

Also the location of Jesus’ Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13).

The view from the summit of it is said to be grand and extensive. This is alluded to in Psalms and Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 46:18, Psalm 89:12)

Mount Hermon

This was traditionally a center for idol worship especially toward Baal. It is called the Hermonim or “the Hermonites” (Psalm 42:6) because it has more than one summit.

It is also called Baal-hermon (Judges 3:3; 1 Chronicles 5:23) and Sion (Deuteronomy 4:48). The Sidonians called it Hermon Sirion or simply Sirion, and the Amorites called it Shenir (Deuteronomy 3:9; Song of Songs 4:8). 1 Chronicles 5:23 seems to distinguish between Senir and Hermon, probably using the names for two of the three peaks of the Hermon range.

This mountain marked the north boundary of ancient Israel (Deuteronomy 3:8, 4:48; Joshua 11:3, 17; 13:11; 12:1), and can be seen from a great distance. It is about 40 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. Some of its melt water feeds the Jordan River alluded to in Psalm 133:3.

Mount Gerizim

This mount is where the Israelites proclaimed the blessings before entering the promised land. On the same mountain, Jotham delivered the parable of the trees (Deuteronomy 11:29, Joshua 8:33, John 4:19-21, Judges 9:7)

In the New Testament, Mount Gerizim is not mentioned by name, but it’s implied in the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman.

Mount of Beatitudes

The setting for Jesus’ most famous sermon (Matthew 5-7). Its location is believed to be on a hill named Mount Eremos in northern Israel, but is not certain.

Mount Gilead

Gilead is an ancient name of a rugged, mountainous area east of the Jordan River. Due to its mountainous nature, it is sometimes called Mount Gilead (Judges 7:3; Song of Songs 4:1; Genesis 31:25).

It is also called “The Land of Gilead” (Numbers 32:1), and sometimes simply “Gilead” (Psalm 60:7; Genesis 37:25).

It was possessed by 3 Hebrew tribes: Gad and Reuben and the south part of Manasseh (Deuteronomy 3:13; Numbers 32:40).

It was bounded on the north by Bashan, and on the south by Moab and Ammon (Genesis 31:21; Deuteronomy 3:12-17).

Mount Bashan

Known for its wild cattle and rich pastures (Ezek. 39:18; Psalm 22:12), the oaks of its forests (Isaiah 2:13; Ezek. 27:6; Zechariah 11:2), and the beauty of its extensive plains (Amos 4:1; Jeremiah 50:19).

Contrasted with Mount Zion as a physically imposing and fertile mountain range yet not the choice of God’s dwelling Presence (Psalm 68:15-16).

Soon after the conquest, the name “Gilead” was given to the whole country beyond Jordan (Joshua 13:29-31).

Mount Nebo

From this mount, Moses saw the promised land. Here he also died and was buried by God (Deuteronomy 32:49, 34:1).

Mount Bethel

This is a hilly district near Bethel (Joshua 16:1; 1 Samuel 13:2).