Mountain; Mountains
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
—the geography of the land of Israel is strongly shaped by hills and mountain ranges, and ancient farmers cultivated even steep slopes by means of terraces. “Mountains of Israel” can therefore stand for the country as a whole (Ezek. 36:1). Biblical poetry draws many figures from this landscape: a great obstacle is a “great mountain” that God can level (Zech. 4:7); mountains quake or melt before the LORD (Ps. 46:2-3; 97:5); divine righteousness is like “the mighty mountains” (Ps. 36:6); and God’s steadfast love remains even if mountains depart and hills are removed (Isa. 54:10).