Mt. Tabor is a mountain situated at the northeast corner of the Valley of Jezreel. The top of the mountain is a plateau approximately 3,250 feet by 1,300 feet. From the top of the plateau the moutainside falls down steeply on all sides. A saddle connects the mountain to the hills in the northwest.
The mountain overlooks the Valley of Jezreel and from its top one can see Mt. Carmel, Mt. Gilboa, and Mt. Hermon. More importantly Mt. Tabor controlled the juncture of the two most important north-south roads in the area. Deborah and Barak used Mt. Tabor to assemble their troops for battle. The troops were able to come down the steep, heavily-forested slopes and surprise the enemy (Judg. 4:6-16).
Mt. Tabor apparently was an important cultic site in Israel. The apportionment of land in the Book of Joshua locates Mt. Tabor at the point at which Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali met (Josh. 19:22). Worship may well have been conducted on the mountain (cf. Deut. 33:18-19, Hos. 5:1). Deborah and Barak may have gathered their troops on Mt. Tabor not only for its strategic position but also for its cultic connections.
Christian tradition has maintained that Mt. Tabor was the location of Jesus' transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36) although the New Testament does not provide an exact location. The tradition is known from the 4th century C.E.
Photograph from the Davka Israel Graphics Collection