the same as חֶרֶס; shining; Cheres, a mountain in Palestine; Heres.
Transliteration:Chereç
Pronunciation:kheh'-res
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H2776}}` (Chereç) is a proper noun, specifically a geographical name. Its base definition indicates it is "the same as `{{H2775}}`," which carries a dual semantic range: "sun" and "earthenware/potsherd." In the case of `{{H2776}}`, the context strongly suggests a derivation from the "sun" aspect of `{{H2775}}`, implying a place characterized by its exposure to the sun or, potentially, associated with solar worship in ancient Canaanite culture. Thus, "Mount Heres" likely means "Mount of the Sun" or "Sunny Mountain." The primary meaning is therefore tied to light, heat, and the celestial body, rather than pottery fragments.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H2776}}` appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in [[Judges 1:35]]. The passage reads: "Yet the Amorites would dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim; but the hand of the house of Joseph was heavy upon them, so that they became forced laborers." This verse describes the tribe of Dan's inability to fully dispossess the Amorites from their territory in the Promised Land. Mount Heres is listed alongside Aijalon and Shaalbim as strongholds where the Amorites maintained their presence.
The context is crucial for understanding the significance of `{{H2776}}`. The book of Judges opens with an account of the various Israelite tribes' incomplete conquest of Canaan, highlighting their failure to fully obey God's command to drive out the indigenous inhabitants. The mention of Mount Heres here underscores a specific geographical point of resistance. While the "house of Joseph" (Ephraim and Manasseh) eventually exerted some control, reducing the Amorites to forced labor, they did not utterly expel them. This failure to fully conquer and dispossess had profound theological implications for Israel's subsequent history, leading to ongoing idolatry and conflict.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most directly related word is `{{H2775}}` (cheres), from which `{{H2776}}` is derived. As noted, `{{H2775}}` means "sun" and "earthenware." The connection of `{{H2776}}` to the "sun" aspect is evident in its application to a prominent geographical feature. Other Hebrew words for "sun" include `{{H8121}}` (shemesh), which also appears in place names like Beth-shemesh ("house of the sun"), a city often associated with solar worship or a place where the sun was particularly prominent. The presence of such names (`{{H2776}}`, Beth-shemesh) suggests the prevalence of sun worship among the Canaanites, a practice strictly forbidden to Israel.
Conceptually, Mount Heres falls within the broader biblical understanding of mountains as significant geographical markers, often serving as natural boundaries, places of refuge, or strategic strongholds. They are also, at times, sites of pagan worship (high places). The mention of Mount Heres, therefore, implicitly connects to the ongoing struggle between YHWH worship and the idolatrous practices of the Canaanites.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H2776}}` is primarily found in its narrative context within [[Judges 1:35]]. It serves as a concrete example of Israel's partial obedience and ultimate failure to complete the divine mandate for conquest. God had commanded Israel to utterly dispossess the Canaanites to prevent the contamination of their faith by pagan practices ([[Deuteronomy 7:2-5]]). The continued presence of the Amorites in strongholds like Mount Heres represents a critical lapse in Israel's covenant faithfulness.
The name "Mount Heres" itself, potentially meaning "Mount of the Sun," carries a subtle but potent theological undertone. If the name is indeed linked to solar worship, then the Amorites' continued occupation of this "Mount of the Sun" highlights the persistent presence of idolatry within the very land promised to God's people. This failure to eradicate the inhabitants and their religious practices led directly to the cycle of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance that characterizes the book of Judges. It underscores the danger of compromise and the consequences of not fully trusting and obeying the Lord.
### Summary
`{{H2776}}` (Chereç), or Mount Heres, is a geographical proper noun appearing once in [[Judges 1:35]]. Its etymology derives from `{{H2775}}` meaning "sun," suggesting "Mount of the Sun" or "Sunny Mountain." Contextually, it represents a stronghold where the Amorites resisted the Israelite conquest, specifically the tribe of Dan. Theologically, Mount Heres stands as a poignant reminder of Israel's incomplete obedience to God's command to dispossess the Canaanites. It symbolizes the enduring challenge of pagan influence within the Promised Land and foreshadows the cycles of apostasy and judgment that define the era of the Judges, highlighting the critical importance of full fidelity to the divine covenant.