The Mountains of Hor

Hōr hāHār

The name "Hōr hāHār" is used in the Hebrew Bible for two distinct mountains. The first is located near the southern border of the land of Edom, between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea. It is often referred to as "Mount Hor" in English translations of the Bible.

Mount Hor

This mountain is mentioned in the Book of Numbers as the place where Aaron, the brother of Moses, died and was buried. The Israelites were encamped at the foot of Mount Hor when Aaron died, and Moses led Aaron and his son Eleazar up the mountain to consecrate Eleazar as Aaron's successor as high priest. After Eleazar was consecrated, Aaron died on the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar buried him there.

Mount Hor is also mentioned in the Book of Deuteronomy as one of the landmarks on the border of the land of Canaan. The Israelites were instructed not to cross the border of Mount Hor, as it was part of the land of Edom.

Horeb

The second mountain called "Hōr hāHār" in the Hebrew Bible is Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai. This mountain is located in the Arabian Desert, and it is where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. Horeb is also mentioned in the Book of Exodus as the place where the Israelites encamped after they left Egypt.

The exact location of Mount Hor and Horeb is unknown, but scholars believe that they are located in the same general area of the Arabian Desert.