Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
A height. ) Now Jebel et-Tur, a cone-like prominent mountain, 11 miles west of the Sea of Galilee. It is about 1,843 feet high. The view from the summit of it is said to be singularly extensive and grand. This is alluded to in Ps. 89:12; Jer. 46:18. ) Judg. 4:6-14. There is an old tradition, which, however, is unfounded, that it was the scene of the transfiguration of our Lord. ). ) A town of Zebulum (1 Chr. 6:77). ” This was probably the Allon-bachuth of Gen. 35:8.
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
is mentioned in the lists of 1Chr 6 as a city of the Merarite Levites, in the tribe of Zebulun. ver. (1 Chronicles 6:77) The list of the towns of Zebulun. Josh 19 contains the name of Chisloth-tabor. ver. (Joshua 19:12) It is, therefore, possible, either that Chisloth-tabor is abbreviated into Tabor by the chronicler, or that by the time these later lists were compiled the Merarites had established themselves on the sacred mountain, and that Tabor is Mount Tabor. (a mound), or Mount Tabor, one of the most interesting and remarkable of the single mountains in Palestine.
It rises abruptly from the northeastern arm of the plain of Esdraelon, and stands entirely insulated, except on the west where a narrow ridge connects it with the hills of Nazareth. It presents to the eye, as seen from a distance, a beautiful appearance, being symmetrical in its proportions and rounded off like a hemisphere or the segment of a circle, yet varying somewhat as viewed from different directions. The body of the mountain consists of the peculiar limestone of the country. It is now called Jebel-et-Tur . It lies about six or eight miles almost due east from Nazareth.
The ascent is usually made on the west side, near the little village of Deburieh—probably the ancient Daberath, (Joshua 19:12)—though it can be made with entire ease in other places. It requires three quarters of an hour or an hour to reach the to the top. The top of Tabor consists of an irregular platform, embracing a circuit of half an hour’s walk, and commanding wide views of the subjacent plain from end to end. Tabor does not occur in the New Testament, but makes a prominent figure in the Old.
The book of Joshua (Joshua 19:22) mentions it as the boundary between Issachar and Zebulun, See ver. 12. Barak, at the command of Deborah, assembled his forces on Tabor, and descended thence, with “ten thousand men after him,” into the plain, and conquered Sisera on the banks of the Kishon. (Judges 4:6-15) The brothers of Gideon each of whom “resembled the children of a king,” were murdered here by Zebah and Zalmunna. (Judges 8:18,19) There are at present the ruins of a fortress round all the summit of Tabor.
The Latin Christians have now an altar here at which their priests from Nazareth perform an annual mass. The Greeks also have a chapel, where, on certain festivals they assemble for the celebration of religious rites. The idea that our Saviour was transfigured on Tabor prevailed extensively among the early Christians, and still reappears often in popular religious works. It is impossible, however, to acquiesce in the correctness of this opinion. D. 60, it is morally certain that Tabor must have been inhabited during the intervening Period that is in the days of Christ.
Tabor, therefore, could not have been the Mount of Transfiguration [see Hermon]; for when it is said that Jesus took his disciples “up into a high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them (Matthew 17:1,2) we must understand that he brought them to the summit of the mountain, where they were alone by themselves.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
TA'BOR (mound, height). 1. A mountain of Palestine; by Greek and Roman writers called Itabyrion and Atybyrion; now known by the Arabic name of Jebel et-Tor. Tabor is situated on the north-eastern edge of the great plain of Esdraelon, and on the borders between Zebulun and Naphtali. It is 6 miles south of east from Nazareth, and 10 miles south of west from the southern extremity of the Sea of Tiberias. History. - The position of Tabor, overlooking the great battle-plain of Palestine, Esdraelon, made it a suitable place for the Israelites to assemble for battle.
There Barak gathered his forces - 10,000 men - for the overthrow of Sisera. Jud 4:6-14. Some of Israel's warriors had been slain there by the Midianites before Gideon's victory. Jud 8:18. Tabor is extolled with Hermon in Ps 89:12, and mentioned with Carmel in Jer 46:18. " Hos 5:1. T. A tradition dating certainly as early as Origen and Jerome made this the Mount of Transfiguration. Mark 9:2-10. c. 218, on the top of the hill.
Furthermore, the Mount of Transfiguration was probably in the region of Caesarea-Philippi, as the transfiguration occurred only a few days after Christ had arrived at that place and solicited the great confession of Peter. However, the legend attached to Tabor led to the erection, before the end of the sixth century, of three churches, in memory of the three tabernacles. Afterward the Crusaders erected a church and a monastery, which were destroyed by the Muslims. Present Appearance. - Mount Tabor is one of the most remarkable of the mountains of Palestine.
It rises from the plain as an isolated mass, only connected on the west by a low and narrow ridge with the hills of Nazareth. Its appearance varies with the point of observation. From the south it has the form of a dome or the arc of a circle; from the west-north-west, that of a truncated cone. It rises from the surrounding table-land to the height of 1053 feet, and its summit is 2018 feet above the Mediterranean. The ascent is steep and rugged, but persons can reach the summit on horseback. The time required for ascending is about an hour. " The soil is fertile, yielding luxuriant pasture.
Partridges, hares, foxes, and other kinds of game abound. Porter speaks of seeing jackals, wolves, and a panther while he was visiting Tabor. The mountain has a flat summit a little less than a quarter of a mile long and an eighth of a mile wide. Two monasteries of comparatively modern date occupy the top of the hill, one belonging to the Greeks and the other to the Latins. There are also ruins of towers, fortifications, vaults, cisterns, and other structures of various periods, Jewish, Greek, Roman, Christian, Saracenic, Frank, and Turk, blended together in a confused mass.
The view from the summit of Tabor is the best in all Central Palestine. To the north and east are Mount Hermon, the Sea of Galilee, the mountains of Bashan and Gilead; to the south and west, the great plain of Esdraelon, Gilboa, Carmel, and the Mediterranean. Standing on this spot, the traveller sees why Tabor was the gathering-place of the northern tribes, and can trace out the great battlefields below. A city in Zebulun, assigned to the Mount Tabor. ) Levites. 1 Chr 6:77. Probably the same as Chisloth-tabor, which see.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
choice; purity; bruising
Schaff's Bible Dictionary
TABOR, THE PLAIN OF. " It is mentioned only in 1 Sam 10:3. What is meant by "Tabor" it is impossible to say. It has been suggested that "the oak of Tabor" was the same as the "Allonbachuth" the oak under which Deborah was buried. Gen 35:8. But Conder proposes to identify this Tabor with el Bukeia, a plain south of Jerusalem.