Merodach-baladan - Merodach has given a son, ( Isa. 39:1), "the hereditary chief of the Chaldeans, a small tribe at that time settled in the marshes at the mouth of the Euphrates, but in consequence of his conquest of Babylon afterwards, they became the dominant caste in Babylonia itself." One bearing this name sent ambassadors to Hezekiah (B.C. 721). He is also called Berodach-baladan (2 Kings 20:12; 2 Chr. 20:31). (See HEZEKIAH.)

Merom - height, a lake in Northern Palestine through which the Jordan flows. It was the scene of the third and last great victory gained by Joshua over the Canaanites ( Josh. 11:5-7). It is not again mentioned in Scripture. Its modern name is Bakrat el-Huleh. "The Ard el-Huleh, the centre of which the lake occupies, is a nearly level plain of 16 miles in length from north to south, and its breadth from east to west is from 7 to 8 miles. On the west it is walled in by the steep and lofty range of the hills of Kedesh-Naphtali; on the east it is bounded by the lower and more gradually ascending slopes of Bashan; on the north it is shut in by a line of hills hummocky and irregular in shape and of no great height, and stretching across from the mountains of Naphtali to the roots of Mount Hermon, which towers up at the north-eastern angle of the plain to a height of 10,000 feet. At its southern extremity the plain is similarly traversed by elevated and broken ground, through which, by deep and narrow clefts, the Jordan, after passing through Lake Huleh, makes its rapid descent to the Sea of Galilee."

The lake is triangular in form, about 4 1/2 miles in length by 3 1/2 at its greatest breadth. Its surface is 7 feet above that of the Mediterranean. It is surrounded by a morass, which is thickly covered with canes and papyrus reeds, which are impenetrable. Macgregor with his canoe, the Rob Roy, was the first that ever, in modern times, sailed on its waters. (See JORDAN.)

Meronothite - a name given to Jehdeiah, the herdsman of the royal asses in the time of David and Solomon (1 Chr. 27:30), probably as one being a native of some unknown town called Meronoth.

Meroz - a plain in the north of Palestine, the inhabitants of which were severely condemned because they came not to help Barak against Sisera ( Judg. 5:23: comp. 21:8-10; 1 Sam. 11:7). It has been identified with Marassus, on a knoll to the north of Wady Jalud, but nothing certainly is known of it. Like Chorazin, it is only mentioned in Scripture in connection with the curse pronounced upon it.

Mesha - middle district, Vulgate, Messa. (1.) A plain in that part of the boundaries of Arabia inhabited by the descendants of Joktan ( Gen. 10:30).

(2.) Heb. meysh'a, "deliverance," the eldest son of Caleb (1 Chr. 2:42), and brother of Jerahmeel.

(3.) Heb. id, a king of Moab, the son of Chemosh-Gad, a man of great wealth in flocks and herds (2 Kings 3:4). After the death of Ahab at Ramoth-Gilead, Mesha shook off the yoke of Israel; but on the ascension of Jehoram to the throne of Israel, that king sought the help of Jehoshaphat in an attempt to reduce the Moabites again to their former condition. The united armies of the two kings came unexpectedly on the army of the Moabites, and gained over them an easy victory. The whole land was devastated by the conquering armies, and Mesha sought refuge in his last stronghold, Kir-harasheth (q.v.). Reduced to despair, he ascended the wall of the city, and there, in the sight of the allied armies, offered his first-born son a sacrifice to Chemosh, the fire-god of the Moabites. This fearful spectacle filled the beholders with horror, and they retired from before the besieged city, and recrossed the Jordan laden with spoil (2 Kings 3:25-27).

The exploits of Mesha are recorded in the Phoenician inscription on a block of black basalt found at Dibon, in Moab, usually called the "Moabite stone" (q.v.).

Meshach - the title given to Mishael, one of the three Hebrew youths who were under training at the Babylonian court for the rank of Magi ( Dan. 1:7;Dan 2:49;Dan 3:12-30). This was probably the name of some Chaldean god.

Meshech - drawing out, the sixth son of Japheth ( Gen. 10:2), the founder of a tribe (1 Chr. 1:5; Ezek. 27:13; Ezek 38:2, Ezek. 27:3). They were in all probability the Moschi, a people inhabiting the Moschian Mountains, between the Black and the Caspian Seas. In Ps. 120:5 the name occurs as simply a synonym for foreigners or barbarians. "During the ascendency of the Babylonians and Persians in Western Asia, the Moschi were subdued; but it seems probable that a large number of them crossed the Caucasus range and spread over the northern steppes, mingling with the Scythians. There they became known as Muscovs, and gave that name to the Russian nation and its ancient capital by which they are still generally known throughout the East"

Meshelemiah - friendship of Jehovah, a Levite of the family of the Korhites, called also Shelemiah (1 Chr. 9:21;1 Chr 26:1,1 Chr. 9:2,1 Chr. 9:9,1 Chr. 9:14). He was a temple gate-keeper in the time of David.

Meshillemoth - requitals. (1.) The father of Berechiah (2 Chr. 28:12).

(2.) A priest, the son of Immer ( Neh. 11:13).

Meshullam - befriended. (1.) One of the chief Gadites in Bashan in the time of Jotham (1 Chr. 5:13).

(2.) Grandfather of Shaphan, "the scribe," in the reign of Josiah (2 Kings 22:3).

(3.) A priest, father of Hilkiah (1 Chr. 9:11; Neh. 11:11), in the reign of Ammon; called Shallum in 1 Chr. 6:12.

(4.) A Levite of the family of Kohath (2 Chr. 34:12), in the reign of Josiah.

(5.) 1 Chr. 8:17.

(6.) 1 Chr. 3:19.

(7.) Neh. 12:13.

(8.) A chief priest ( Neh. 12:16).

(9.) One of the leading Levites in the time of Ezra ( Neh 8:16).

(10.) A priest (1 Chr. 9:12).

(11.) One of the principal Israelites who supported Ezra when expounding the law to the people ( Neh. 8:4).

Meshullemeth - friend, the wife of Manasseh, and the mother of Amon (2 Kings 21:19), Kings of Judah.

Mesopotamia - the country between the two rivers (Heb. Aram-naharaim; i.e., "Syria of the two rivers"), the name given by the Greeks and Romans to the region between the Euphrates and the Tigris ( Gen. 24:10; Deut. 23:4; Judg. 3:8, Judg. 3:10). In the Old Testament it is mentioned also under the name "Padan-aram;" i.e., the plain of Aram, or Syria ( Gen. 25:20). The northern portion of this fertile plateau was the original home of the ancestors of the Hebrews (Gen. 11; Acts 7:2). From this region Isaac obtained his wife Rebecca ( Gen. 24:10,Gen. 24:15), and here also Jacob sojourned ( Gen 28:2-7) and obtained his wives, and here most of his sons were born ( Gen 35:26;Gen 46:15). The petty, independent tribes of this region, each under its own prince, were warlike, and used chariots in battle. They maintained their independence till after the time of David, when they fell under the dominion of Assyria, and were absorbed into the empire (2 Kings 19:13).

Mess - a portion of food given to a guest ( Gen. 43:34; 2 Sam. 11:8).

Messenger - (Heb. mal'ak, Gr. angelos), an angel, a messenger who runs on foot, the bearer of despatches ( Job 1:14; 1 Sam. 11:7; 2 Chr. 36:22); swift of foot (2 Kings 9:18).

Messiah - (Heb. mashiah), in all the thirty-nine instances of its occurring in the Old Testament, is rendered by the LXX. "Christos." It means anointed. Thus priests ( Ex. 28:41;Ex 40:15; Num. 3:3), prophets (1 Kings 19:16), and kings (1 Sam. 9:16;1 Sam 16:3; 2 Sam. 12:7) were anointed with oil, and so consecrated to their respective offices. The great Messiah is anointed "above his fellows" ( Ps. 45:7); i.e., he embraces in himself all the three offices. The Greek form "Messias" is only twice used in the New Testament, in John 1:41 and 4:25 (R.V., "Messiah"), and in the Old Testament the word Messiah, as the rendering of the Hebrew, occurs only twice ( Dan 9:25,Dan 9:26; R.V., "the anointed one").

The first great promise ( Gen. 3:15) contains in it the germ of all the prophecies recorded in the Old Testament regarding the coming of the Messiah and the great work he was to accomplish on earth. The prophecies became more definite and fuller as the ages rolled on; the light shone more and more unto the perfect day. Different periods of prophetic revelation have been pointed out, (1) the patriarchal; (2) the Mosaic; (3) the period of David; (4) the period of prophetism, i.e., of those prophets whose works form a part of the Old Testament canon. The expectations of the Jews were thus kept alive from generation to generation, till the "fulness of the times," when Messiah came, "made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law." In him all these ancient prophecies have their fulfilment. Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the great Deliverer who was to come. (Comp. Matt. 26:54; Mark 9:12; Luke 18:31; Luke 22:37; John 5:39; Acts 2; 16:31; Acts 26:22, Acts 2; 16:23.)

Metheg-ammah - bridle of the mother, a figurative name for a chief city, as in 2 Sam. 8:1, "David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines" (R.V., "took the bridle of the mother-city"); i.e., subdued their capital or strongest city, viz., Gath (1 Chr. 18:1).

Methusael - champion of El; man of God, a descendant of Cain ( Gen. 4:18), so called, perhaps, to denote that even among the descendants of Cain God had not left himself without a witness.

Methuselah - man of the dart, the son of Enoch, and grandfather of Noah. He was the oldest man of whom we have any record, dying at the age of nine hundred and sixty-nine years, in the year of the Flood ( Gen. 5:21-27; 1 Chr. 1:3).

Mezahab - water of gold, the father of Matred ( Gen. 36:39; 1 Chr. 1:50), and grandfather of Mehetabel, wife of Hadar, the last king of Edom.

Miamin - =Mijamin, from the right hand. (1.) The head of one of the divisions of the priests (1 Chr. 24:9).

(2.) A chief priest who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel ( Neh. 12:5), called Mijamin ( Neh 10:7) and Miniamin ( Neh 12:17).

Mibhar - choice, a Hagarene, one of David's warriors (1 Chr. 11:38); called also Bani the Gadite (2 Sam. 23:36).

Mibsam - fragrance. (1.) One of Ishmael's twelve sons, and head of an Arab tribe ( Gen. 25:13).

(2.) A son of Simeon (1 Chr. 4:25).

Mibzar - fortress, one of the Edomitish "dukes" descended from Esau ( Gen. 36:42; 1 Chr. 1:53).

Micah - a shortened form of Micaiah, who is like Jehovah? (1.) A man of Mount Ephraim, whose history so far is introduced in Judg. 17, apparently for the purpose of leading to an account of the settlement of the tribe of Dan in Northern Palestine, and for the purpose also of illustrating the lawlessness of the times in which he lived ( Judg. 18; 19:1-29;Judg 21:25).

(2.) The son of Merib-baal (Mephibosheth), 1 Chr. 8:34,1 Chr. 8:35.

(3.) The first in rank of the priests of the family of Kohathites (1 Chr. 23:20).

(4.) A descendant of Joel the Reubenite (1 Chr. 5:5).

(5.) "The Morasthite," so called to distinguish him from Micaiah, the son of Imlah (1 Kings 22:8). He was a prophet of Judah, a contemporary of Isaiah ( Micah 1:1), a native of Moresheth of Gath ( Micah 1:14,Micah 1:15). Very little is known of the circumstances of his life (comp. Jer. 26:18, Jer. 26:19).

Micah, Book of - the sixth in order of the so-called minor prophets. The superscription to this book states that the prophet exercised his office in the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. If we reckon from the beginning of Jotham's reign to the end of Hezekiah's (B.C. 759-698), then he ministered for about fifty-nine years; but if we reckon from the death of Jotham to the accession of Hezekiah (B.C. 743-726), his ministry lasted only sixteen years. It has been noticed as remarkable that this book commences with the last words of another prophet, "Micaiah the son of Imlah" (1 Kings 22:28): "Hearken, O people, every one of you."

The book consists of three sections, each commencing with a rebuke, "Hear ye," etc., and closing with a promise, (1) ch. 1; 2; (2) ch. 3-5, especially addressed to the princes and heads of the people; (3) ch. 6-7, in which Jehovah is represented as holding a controversy with his people: the whole concluding with a song of triumph at the great deliverance which the Lord will achieve for his people. The closing verse is quoted in the song of Zacharias (Luke 1:72, 73). The prediction regarding the place "where Christ should be born," one of the most remarkable Messianic prophecies (Micah 5:2), is quoted in Matt. 2:6.

There are the following references to this book in the New Testament:

5:2, with Matt. 2:6; John 7:42. 7:6, with Matt. 10:21, Matt. 10:35, Matt. 10:36. 7:20, with Luke 1:72, Luke 1:73.