חֶרֶס

חֶרֶס

Cheres, a mountain in Palestine

Definition

חֶרֶס (Chereç) is a proper noun referring to a specific mountain in ancient Palestine, mentioned in Judges 1:35. The name itself means 'shining' or 'sun,' likely describing a prominent, sun-baked peak. In its sole biblical occurrence, it is identified as Mount Heres, a location where the Amorites continued to dwell despite Israelite pressure. No other distinct meanings or usages are attested for this specific form in the Hebrew Bible.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Judges 1:35. It functions strictly as a geographical name ('Mount Heres') within the narrative of the incomplete conquest of Canaan by the tribe of Dan. The context is a list of areas where the Amorites persisted, and the mountain is associated with the towns of Aijalon and Shaalbim.

Etymology

The word חֶרֶס (Chereç) is identical to the common noun חֶרֶס (cheres, H2775), which means 'sun,' 'sunshine,' or 'shining thing' (e.g., Job 9:7). As a place name, it derives directly from this root, describing a physical characteristic of the location—likely a bare, bright, or sun-exposed hill.

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a simple place name, its context in Judges 1:35 is theologically significant. It appears in a catalog of failures by the Israelites to fully drive out the Canaanite inhabitants as God commanded. Thus, 'Mount Heres' serves as a tangible marker of disobedience and incomplete conquest, contributing to the book of Judges' theme of cyclical apostasy and its consequences. Naming a geographical feature after the sun ('Heres') was a common practice in the ancient Near East, reflecting the landscape's appearance or possibly even earlier solar cultic associations. For the biblical author, however, the primary cultural context is its role as an Amorite stronghold that resisted Israelite control during the settlement period. שֶׁמֶשׁ (shemesh, H8121) — The primary and more common Hebrew word for 'sun.' חֶרֶס (cheres, H2775) is a poetic or alternate term for the same celestial body.

Word Details