Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MOUNT(AIN) OF GOD

Because two large mountain ranges dominate the geography of Israel, it is not surprising that mountains figure prominently in the Bible and in Israel’s symbolism. Reflecting the religious mythology of Israel’s neighbors, the sacred mountain was the meeting place of the divine council (cf. Isa. 14:13), and divine decisions/decrees were made there (cf. Exod. 19–20). The sacred mountain symbolized fertility and was a source of water (cf. Hab. 3:10; Zech. 14:8). Moreover, it was the site of primeval conflict/combat or creation. These elements are widespread and found, e.g., in Ugaritic descriptions of Mt. Zaphon, the mythological abode of Baal (cf. Ps. 48:2[MT 3]; 89:12[13]), and in ancient Near Eastern art in the “scale-pattern” of Mesopotamian glyptic.

In the biblical accounts mountains are holy (Obad. 16), ancient (Job 15:7), eternal (Gen. 49:26; Hab. 3:6), and a place where theophanies occur (e.g., Exod. 3–4; 32–34; 1 Kgs. 19; ; cf. Rev. 21:10). Diverse mountains are associated with the Lord, “a god of the mountains” (1 Kgs. 20:28) — e.g., Ebal, Gerizim, and Seir — but the mountains of God in the OT are usually Sinai/Horeb (Exod. 18:5; 24:13; Num. 10:33) and Zion (Ps. 68:16[17]; Isa. 2:2; 1 Macc. 11:37). Despite John 4:21, mountains also figure prominently and (probably) symbolically in the Gospels. Jesus is often found praying, teaching, and healing on mountains (Matt. 5:1–7:27; 14:23; 15:29; Mark 3:13; 6:46). Part of Jesus’ temptation takes place on a mountain (Matt. 4:8), as do the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2) and Ascension (Luke 24:50).

Bibliography. R. J. Clifford, The Cosmic Mountain in Canaan and the Old Testament. HSM 4 (Cambridge, Mass., 1972); D. Pardee and P. Xella, “Mountains-and-Valleys,” in DDD, 604-5.

Brent A. Strawn

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MOUNT(AIN) OF GOD

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)