Mount Hazor

Mount Hazor (in Hebrew: Har Baal-Hazor - הַר בַּעַל חָצוֹר or Ramat Hazor - רמת חָצוֹר) is an irregularly shaped plateau, marking the geographical boundary between Samaria to its north and Judea to its south. Its peak, called Baal-hazor in Hebrew and Tell Asur in Arabic, reaches approximately 1,020 metres (3,350 ft) above sea level.

Its name is derived from the word for "courtyard", referring to the walled enclosures that this large land mass enabled ancients to construct. These enclosures served as seasonal pens for sheep that were brought there for shearing, which was accompanied with a festive gathering. The peak housed a pagan shrine for worship of a Baal (deity) who was considered "lord of the mountain", hence its name: "Baal-hazor".

The Genesis Apocryphon of the Dead Sea scrolls identifies Ramat Hazor as the site between Bethel and Ai where Abraham built an altar and invoked the name of God (Gen. 12:1-9). At this site the accounts of Genesis 13:14-17 took place:

The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”