Bible Encyclopedias
Halak, Mount

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hā´lak ( ההר החלק , hā - hār he - ḥālāḳ ): A mountain that marked the southern limit of the conquests of Joshua ( Joshua 11:17; Joshua 12:7 ). It is spoken of as the "mount Halak (literally, "the bare" or "smooth mountain") that goeth up to Seir." The latter passage locates it on the West of the Arabah. The southern boundary of the land is defined by the ascent of Akrabbim (Numbers 34:4; Joshua 15:3 ). This may with some certainty be identified with the pass known today as naḳb eṣ -Ṣafā , "pass of the smooth rock," through which runs the road from the South to Hebron. To the Southwest opens Wādy Maderah , a continuation of Wādy el -Fiḳrah , in which there rises a conspicuous hill, Jebel Maderah , composed of limestone, answering well the description of a bare or smooth mountain. It is a striking feature of the landscape viewed from all sides, and may well be the mount here referred to. See also HOR , MOUNT .