Bible Dictionaries
Hill, Hill Country

Holman Bible Dictionary

Elevated land, usually distinguished as lower than a mountain or with a less distinct peak. Hills separating the Mediterranean coastal plain from the Jordan valley run the length of Palestine. The area to the east of the Jordan and the Dead Sea is likewise hill country. The common Hebrew terms for hill and hill country (Gibeah and Har ) lack precise English equivalents, so a detailed knowledge of geography is required for proper translation. The RSV translated Gibeah as hill or hills 65 times. The RSV translated Har , the usual term for mountain, as hill 40 times and as hill country 92 times. The KJV and REB understood the Hebew Ophel as a fortress or citadel (2 Kings 5:24; Isaiah 32:14; Micah 4:8 ). Many English translations like NAS translated the term as hill. KJV uses tower, fort, and stronghold in the three passages.