the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Encyclopedias
Halak
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (Heb. Chalak'p, חָלָק smooth; Sept. Ἀαλάκ and Χελχά ), the name (or, rather, epithet) of a hill (הָהָי הִחָלָק, both with the art.=-the bare mount) near the territory of Seir, at the southern extremity of Canaan, among the conquests of Joshua (Joshua 11:17; Joshua 12:7); so called, doubtless, from its bald appearance, making it a landmark in that direction. Hence it is used by Joshua, as Beersheba was used by later writers, to mark the southern limit of the country" So Joshua took all that land… from the Mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baal-gad, in the valley of Lebanon, under Mount Hermon." The situation of the mountain is thus pretty definitely indicated. It adjoins Edom, and lay on the southern border of Palestine; it must, consequently, have been in, or very near, the great valley of the Arabah. The expression, "that goeth up to Seir" (הָעֹלֶה שֵׂעַיר ), is worthy of note. Seir is the mountainous province of Edom, (See SEIR); and Mount Halak would seem to have been connected with it, as if running up towards it, or joining it to a lower district. About ten miles south of the Dead Sea a line of naked white cliffs, varying in height from 50 to 150 feet, runs completely across the Arabah. As seen from the north, the cliffs resemble a ridge of hills (and in this aspect the word הִר might. perhaps be applied to them), shutting in the deep valley, and connecting the mountain chain on the west with the mountains of Seir on the east. It is possibly this ridge which is referred to in Numbers 24:3-4, and Joshua 15:2-3, under the name "Ascent of Akrabbim," and as marking the south-eastern border of Judah; and it might well be called the bald mountain, which ascends to Seir. It was also a natural landmark for the southern boundary for Palestine, as it is near Kedesh-barnea on the one side, and the northern ridge of Edom on the other. To this ridge, bounding the land in the valley on the south, is appropriately opposed on the north, "Baal-gad, in the valley of Lebanon" (Keil on Joshua 11:17). The cliffs, and the scenery of the surrounding region, are minutely described by Robinson (Bib. Res. 2, 113, 116 120). Still, the peculiar term, "the bald mountain," seems to require some more distinctive eminence, perhaps in this general range. Schwarz thinks it may be identified with Jebel Madura, on the south frontier of Judah, between the south end of the Dead Sea and wady Gaian (Palestine, p. 29); marked on Robinson's map a little south of the famous pass Nukb es-Safah.
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Halak'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/h/halak.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
