Mount Tabor in Israel

by David Padfield

 

In the northeast corner of the plain of Esdraelon stands Mt. Tabor, overlooking the valley of Jezreel. From its summit you can see Mt. Carmel, Mt. Gilboa, and Mt. Hermon. Tabor is certainly "among the mountains" (Jer. 46:18). One of the main routes from Hazor and Damascus in the north to the pass of Megiddo and the coastal plain goes along the northwest side of Tabor. The territories of Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali meet at Mt. Tabor.

Thirty-two centuries ago Deborah, a prophet/judge in Israel, along with her general Barak, defeated a Canaanite army under the command of Jabin and his general, Sisera.

"Then Deborah said to Barak, 'Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the Lord gone out before you?' So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot." (Judges 4:14-15).