Location
Overview
Mount Hor, on the border of Edom, is remembered as the place of Aaron's death — a solemn passing of the priesthood in sight of all Israel.
The death of Aaron
At God's command Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's son Eleazar went up Mount Hor. There Moses stripped Aaron of his priestly garments and put them on Eleazar, "and Aaron died there in the top of the mount" (Numbers 20:25–28).
A nation in mourning
"When all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel" (Numbers 20:29). The high priesthood passed to Eleazar.
A marker of the journey
Mount Hor stands in the itinerary as the place "by the coast of the land of Edom" where Aaron died "in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of... Egypt" (Numbers 33:37–38).
Events Here
Aaron dies on Mount Hor; Eleazar succeeds him as high priest
Scripture References
12 versesNumbers11 verses
Numbers 20:22
And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.
Numbers 20:23
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,
Numbers 20:25
Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:
Numbers 20:27
And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
Numbers 21:4
And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. discouraged: or, grieved: Heb. shortened
Numbers 33:37
And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.
Numbers 33:38
And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month.
Numbers 33:39
And Aaron was an hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor.
Numbers 33:41
And they departed from mount Hor, and pitched in Zalmonah.
Numbers 34:7
And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor:
Numbers 34:8
From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad:
Deuteronomy1 verse
Deuteronomy 32:50
And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:
Archaeology & History
Mount Hor is traditionally identified with Jebel Harun ("Aaron's Mountain") near Petra in southern Jordan, crowned by a shrine venerated as Aaron's tomb; some scholars place it nearer Kadesh instead. Either way it lay on the Edomite frontier of Israel's long detour.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Mount Hor
Where is Mount Hor today?
Today, Mount Hor corresponds to Jebel Harun, Jordan (traditional).
What does the name Mount Hor mean?
The name Mount Hor means “Hor = "mountain"”.
What happened at Mount Hor in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Mount Hor include aaron dies on mount hor; eleazar succeeds him as high priest.
Where is Mount Hor first mentioned in the Bible?
Mount Hor is first mentioned in Numbers 20:22.
How often is Mount Hor mentioned in the Bible?
Mount Hor is mentioned in 12 verses across 2 books: Numbers, Deuteronomy.
What happened on Mount Hor?
Aaron the high priest died there. Moses transferred his priestly garments to his son Eleazar on the mountaintop, and Israel mourned Aaron for thirty days.
Where is Mount Hor?
On the border of Edom; traditionally identified with Jebel Harun near Petra in southern Jordan.