Tabor (I)

I. TABOR, or Thabor; a Mountain of Euseb. in locis. in Θαβώρ.Galilee, called by the Greeks, Ithaburius, or Athaburius.¹ Eusebius says, it was upon the Frontiers of Zebulun, in the middle of Joseph. de bell. l. 4. c. 2. seu 5. in Gr. p. 866.Galilee, ten Miles from Diocæsarea, towards the East; and that it was also in the Confines of Issachar and Naphthali. Joshua xix. 22. puts it upon the Borders of the Tribe of Issachar. The Word Tabor, in Hebrew, signifies an Eminence, and the Navel; because this Mountain rises up in the midst of a wide champion Country, called the Valley of Jezreel, or the great Plain. Josephus says, that the Height of Tabor is thirty Stadia, and that there is a Plain on the top of it, of twenty-six Stadia in Circumference, surrounded with Walls, and inaccessible on the North Side. Polybius assures us, that there was a City on the Top of it; and Josephus Polyb. l. 5. c. 70.insinuates the same thing, when he says that he caused the top of Mount Ithabirius to be inclosed with Walls in forty Days, the Inhabitants of which had no other Water but that of the Rain. He adds, that Tabor is situated between the great Plain and Scythopolis; which cannot be understood of the great Plain of Jezreel, in the midst of which Tabor stood, but of another great Plain, which is at the foot of Mount Carmel, and See M. Reland. Palæstin. l. 1. c. 55. p. 366, 367, &c.which stretches out to the South, to the East, and to the North of this Mountain.

Tabor is entirely by itself, in the midst of a great Plain, in which it rises up like a Sugar-loaf: Est autem Thabor mons in Galilæa, situs in campestribus, rotundus atque sublimis, & ex omni parte finitus æqualiter, says St. Jerom. This is confirmed by all Hieron. in Osee v.Travellers, who add, that it makes a very beautiful Prospect, being covered with Verdure and green Trees; and that on its top there is a large Plain, where there was formerly a City, and where since a great Monastery has been built. This Mountain at present is entirely forsaken. Mention is made of the City of Tabor in 1 Chron. vi. 77. Sanutus speaks of a River, the Spring Adamnan. l. 2. de locis SS. & S. Villibrord. Sanut. secret. Sidel. cruc. p. 252.whereof was at the foot of Tabor, towards the East, and which discharged itself into the Jordan, at the end of the Lake of Genezareth. Tabor was opposite to Mount Hermon, which was on the other side of the Valley of Jezreel, towards the South. Hermon was desart and barren, but Tabor was inhabited, and covered with Trees and Verdure: The Psalmist puts these two Mountains in opposition; The north and the south thou hast created them; Tabor and Hermon Psalm lxxxix. 12.shall rejoice in thy name.

Deborah and Barak assembled their Army Judg. iv. 6, &c.together upon Tabor, and gave Battel to Sisera, General of the Forces of Jabin King of Hazor, at the foot of this Mountain, in the Year of the World 2719, before Jesus Christ 1281, before the Vulgar Æra 1285.

Hos. v. 1. Hosea reproaches the Princes of Israel, and the Priests of the Golden Calves, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a Net spread upon Tabor. These Snares and these Nets, were probably Idols, or superstitious Altars, that were set up at Mizpah beyond Jordan, and upon Tabor in Galilee, to entice the Children of Israel to Idolatry and Superstition.

Some think it was upon Tabor that Melchizedech came to Abraham, and that it was there he offered his Sacrifice to the Lord. Adricomius says, that even in his time was shewn the Altar upon which this Sacrifice was offered. We read in some Apocryphal Histories, that Melchizedech Vid. apud Athanas. Edit. R.P. de Montfauc. t. 3. p. 239.continued seven Years upon Mount Tabor, in the exercise of Repentance, and that Abraham, by God’s Order, went thither to him, and received from him the Holy Unction, and his Blessing. But no Credit is to be given to such Relations.

When Josephus the Historian was Governor Joseph. de bell. l. 4. c. 6. p. 866, 867. In the Year 67 of the vulgar Æra.of Galilee, he had the top of Tabor strongly fortified, thinking to make an impregnable Place of it. But Vespasian sent Placidus, one of his Officers, who by Stratagem drew down the Jews from the Mountain into the open Country, where he cut them to pieces.

It has been believed for several Ages, that it was upon Mount Tabor that our Saviour Matt. xvii. 1. Luk. ix. 27, &c.was transfigured, in the presence of St. Peter, St. James, and St. John. Eusebius expresly says so upon Psal. lxxxix. 12. and St. Jerom in the Epitaph or Historical Encomium of St. Paula, and in his 17th Letter to Marcella. John Damascenus affirms it also; and for a long time the matter was Damasc. homil. de Transfig.looked upon as indisputable. Yet Maldonate, Lightfoot, Reland, and some others, have made a doubt of it. The old Itinerary Reland. Palæstin. l. 1. c. 51. p. 334, 335, &c.of Bourdeaux will have it, that our Saviour was transfigured upon the Mount of Olives. The ancient Fathers who have spoke of the Transfiguration have not marked out Tabor for it. The Evangelists do not name it, and the Journey they insinuate our Saviour to have made for this purpose, does not seem favourable to the Opinion of those who think it was performed upon Mount Tabor. See our Commentary upon St. Matth. xvii. 1.

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