This line reminds me of when I had an epiphany moment: “Now we often pass over this fact: they had to climb that mountain. And the climb was no easy task. Anyone who has been to the site of Tabor knows what a high mountain it is. The climb was almost 2000 feet, and it is both high and steep.”
I remembered hearing the Sound of Music song “Climb Every Mountain” and seeing it sung in the movie, but it did not really mean anything to me other than ‘a song about climbing a mountain.’ A codicle, I grew up on the flat lands of Indiana. In my junior year of college I went on a 3 week history department tour of Europe. Half way through it we had a 3 day visit to the small town of Engelberg, Switzerland. The train to the town wound its way from Zurich and I viewed the mountains, then in the town I viewed the mountains all around me, seeing really big mountains for the first time. the next day I went up a ski lift and saw down from the top and then I realized the true meaning of the song “Climb every mountain” it wasn’t about physical climbing, but a spiritual climb to a higher level.
Luke’s Gospel has an interesting statement about the Transfiguration: “Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:39-31)
Years ago, while on a train to western PA, the train would go through the moutain range in that state. The view was amazing.
Also I have read that there is transportatin that takes pilgrims up to Mount Tabor when one make pilgrimage to Israel.