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Micaiah - who is like Jehovah?, the son of Imlah, a faithful prophet of Samaria (1 Kings 22:8-28). Three years after the great battle with Ben-hadad 1 Kings 20:29-34), Ahab proposed to Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, that they should go up against Ramoth-Gilead to do battle again with Ben-hadad. Jehoshaphat agreed, but suggested that inquiry should be first made "at the word of Jehovah." Ahab's prophets approved of the expedition; but Jehoshaphat, still dissatisfied, asked if there was no other prophet besides the four hundred that had appeared, and was informed of this Micaiah. He was sent for from prison, where he had been confined, probably on account of some prediction disagreeable to Ahab; and he condemned the expedition, and prophesied that it would end, as it did, in disaster. We hear nothing further of this prophet. Some have supposed that he was the unnamed prophet referred to in 1 Kings 20:35-42.

Micha - (1.) 2 Sam. 9:12 =MICAH (2).

(2.) The son of Zabdi, a Levite of the family of Asaph ( Neh. 11:17,Neh. 11:22).

Michael - who is like God? (1.) The title given to one of the chief angels ( Dan. 10:13,Dan. 10:21;Dan 12:1). He had special charge of Israel as a nation. He disputed with Satan ( Jude 1:9) about the body of Moses. He is also represented as warning against "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world" ( Rev. 12:7-9).

(2.) The father of Sethur, the spy selected to represent Asher ( Num. 13:13).

(3.) 1 Chr. 7:3, a chief of the tribe of Issachar.

(4.) 1 Chr. 8:16, a Benjamite.

(5.) A chief Gadite in Bashan (1 Chr. 5:13).

(6.) A Manassite, "a captain of thousands" who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:20).

(7.) A Gershonite Levite (1 Chr. 6:40).

(8.) The father of Omri (1 Chr. 27:18).

(9.) One of the sons of king Jehoshaphat (2 Chr. 21:2,2 Chr. 21:4). He was murdered by his brother Jehoram.

Michaiah - (1.) The queen-mother of King Abijah (2 Chr. 13:2). (See MAACAH [4]).

(2.) One of those ent out by Jehoshaphat to instruct the people in the law (2 Chr. 17:7).

(3.) 2 Kings 22:12.

(4.) The son of Gemariah. He reported to the king's officers Jeremiah's prediction, which he had heard Baruch read ( Jer. 36:11,Jer. 36:13) from his father Gemariah's chamber in the temple.

(5.) A Levite ( Neh. 12:35).

(6.) A priest ( Neh. 12:41).

Michal - rivulet, or who as God?, the younger of Saul's two daughters by his wife Ahinoam (1 Sam. 14:49,1 Sam. 14:50). "Attracted by the graces of his person and the gallantry of his conduct, she fell in love with David and became his wife" 1 Sam 18:20-28). She showed her affection for him by promoting his escape to Naioth when Saul sought his life (1 Sam. 19:12-17. Comp. Ps. 59. See TERAPHIM ). After this she did not see David for many years. Meanwhile she was given in marriage to another man, Phlti or Phaltiel of Gallim (1 Sam. 25:44), but David afterwards formally reclaimed her as his lawful wife (2 Sam. 3:13-16). The relation between her and David soon after this was altered. They became alienated from each other. This happened on that memorable day when the ark was brought up in great triumph from its temporary resting-place to the Holy City. In David's conduct on that occasion she saw nothing but a needless humiliation of the royal dignity (1 Chr. 15:29). She remained childless, and thus the races of David and Saul were not mixed. In 2 Sam. 21:8 her name again occurs, but the name Merab should probably be here substituted for Michal (comp. 1 Sam. 18:19).

Michmash - something hidden, a town of Benjamin ( Ezra 2:27), east of Bethel and south of Migron, on the road to Jerusalem ( Isa. 10:28). It lay on the line of march of an invading army from the north, on the north side of the steep and precipitous Wady es-Suweinit ("valley of the little thorn-tree" or "the acacia"), and now bears the name of Mukhmas. This wady is called "the passage of Michmash" (1 Sam. 13:23). Immediately facing Mukhmas, on the opposite side of the ravine, is the modern representative of Geba, and behind this again are Ramah and Gibeah.

This was the scene of a great battle fought between the army of Saul and the Philistines, who were utterly routed and pursued for some 16 miles towards Philistia as far as the valley of Aijalon. "The freedom of Benjamin secured at Michmash led through long years of conflict to the freedom of all its kindred tribes." The power of Benjamin and its king now steadily increased. A new spirit and a new hope were now at work in Israel. (See SAUL.)

Michmethah - hiding-place, a town in the northern border of Ephraim and Manasseh, and not far west of Jordan ( Josh. 16:6;Josh 17:7).

Michri - prize of Jehovah, a Benjamite, the father of Uzzi (1 Chr. 9:8).

Michtam - writing; i.e., a poem or song found in the titles of Ps. 16; 56-60. Some translate the word "golden", i.e., precious. It is rendered in the LXX. by a word meaning "tablet inscription" or a "stelograph." The root of the word means to stamp or grave, and hence it is regarded as denoting a composition so precious as to be worthy to be engraven on a durable tablet for preservation; or, as others render, "a psalm precious as stamped gold," from the word kethem, "fine or stamped gold."

Middin - measures, one of the six cities "in the wilderness," on the west of the Dead Sea, mentioned along with En-gedi ( Josh. 15:61).

Midian - strife, the fourth son of Abraham by Keturah, the father of the Midianites ( Gen. 25:2; 1 Chr. 1:32).

Midianite - an Arabian tribe descended from Midian. They inhabited principally the desert north of the peninsula of Arabia. The peninsula of Sinai was the pasture-ground for their flocks. They were virtually the rulers of Arabia, being the dominant tribe. Like all Arabians, they were a nomad people. They early engaged in commercial pursuits. It was to one of their caravans that Joseph was sold ( Gen. 37:28,Gen. 37:36). The next notice of them is in connection with Moses' flight from Egypt ( Ex. 2:15-21). Here in Midian Moses became the servant and afterwards the son-in-law of Reuel or Jethro, the priest. After the Exodus, the Midianites were friendly to the Israelites so long as they traversed only their outlying pasture-ground on the west of the Arabah; but when, having passed the southern end of Edom, they entered into the land of Midian proper, they joined with Balak, the king of Moab, in a conspiracy against them ( Num. 22:4-7). Balaam, who had been sent for to curse Israel, having utterly failed to do so, was dismissed by the king of Moab; nevertheless he still tarried among the Midianites, and induced them to enter into correspondence with the Israelites, so as to bring them into association with them in the licentious orgies connected with the worship of Baal-Peor. This crafty counsel prevailed. The Israelites took part in the heathen festival, and so brought upon themselves a curse indeed. Their apostasy brought upon them a severe punishment. A plague broke out amongst them, and more than twenty-four thousand of the people perished ( Num. 25:9). But the Midianites were not to be left unpunished. A terrible vengeance was denounced against them. A thousand warriors from each tribe, under the leadership of Phinehas, went forth against them. The Midianites were utterly routed. Their cities were consumed by fire, five of their kings were put to death, and the whole nation was destroyed ( Josh. 13:21,Josh. 13:22). Balaam also perished by the sword, receiving the "wages of his unrighteousness" ( Num. 31:8; 2 Pet. 2:15). The whole of the country on the east of Jordan, now conquered by the Israelites (see SIHON ; OG ), was divided between the two tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh.

Some two hundred and fifty years after tis the Midianites had regained their ancient power, and in confederation with the Amlekites and the "children of the east" they made war against their old enemies the Israelites, whom for seven years they oppressed and held in subjection. They were at length assailed by Gideon in that ever-memorable battle in the great plain of Esdraelon, and utterly destroyed ( Judg. 6:1-ch. 7). Frequent allusions are afterwards made to this great victory ( Ps. 83:10,Ps. 83:12; Isa. 9:4; Isa 10:6). They now wholly pass away from the page of history both sacred and profane.

Midwife - The two midwives mentioned in Ex. 1:15 were probably the superintendents of the whole class.

Migdal-Edar - tower of the flock, a place 2 miles south of Jerusalem, near the Bethlehem road ( Gen. 35:21). (See EDAR.)

Migdal-el - tower of God, a fortified city of Naphtali ( Josh. 19:38), supposed by some to be identical with Magdala (q.v.).

Migdal-gad - tower of fortune, a town in the plains of Judah, probably the modern el-Mejdel, a little to the north-east of Ascalon ( Josh. 15:37).

Migdol - tower. (1.) A strongly-fortified place 12 miles from Pelusium, in the north of Egypt ( Jer. 44:1;Jer 46:14). This word is rendered "tower" in Ezek. 29:10, but the margin correctly retains the name Migdol, "from Migdol to Syene;" i.e., from Migdol in the north to Syene in the south, in other words, the whole of Egypt.

(2.) A place mentioned in the passage of the Red Sea ( Ex. 14:2; Num. 33:7, Num. 33:8). It is probably to be identified with Bir Suweis, about 2 miles from Suez.

Migron - precipice or landslip, a place between Aiath and Michmash ( Isa. 10:28). The town of the same name mentioned in 1 Sam. 14:2 was to the south of this.

Mikloth - staves. (1.) An officer under Dodai, in the time of David and Solomon (1 Chr. 27:4).

(2.) A Benjamite (1 Chr. 8:32;1 Chr 9:37,1 Chr. 8:38).

Milaiai - eloquent, a Levitical musician ( Neh. 12:36) who took part in the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem.

Mildew - (the rendering of a Hebrew word meaning "to be yellow," yellowness), the result of cutting east winds blighting and thus rendering the grain unproductive ( Deut. 28:22; 1 Kings 8:37; 2 Chr. 6:28).

Mile - (from Lat. mille, "a thousand;" Matt. 5:41), a Roman measure of 1,000 paces of 5 feet each. Thus the Roman mile has 1618 yards, being 142 yards shorter than the English mile.

Miletus - (Miletum, 2 Tim. 4:20), a seaport town and the ancient capital of Ionia, about 36 miles south of Ephesus. On his voyage from Greece to Syria, Paul touched at this port, and delivered that noble and pathetic address to the elders ("presbyters," ver. 28) of Ephesus recorded in Acts 20:15-35. The site of Miletus is now some 10 miles from the coast. (See EPHESIANS, EPISTLE TO.)

Milk - (1.) Hebrew halabh, "new milk", milk in its fresh state ( Judg. 4:19). It is frequently mentioned in connection with honey ( Ex. 3:8;Ex 13:5; Josh. 5:6; Isa. 7:15, Isa. 7:22; Jer. 11:5). Sheep ( Deut. 32:14) and goats ( Prov. 27:27) and camels ( Gen. 32:15), as well as cows, are made to give their milk for the use of man. Milk is used figuratively as a sign of abundance ( Gen. 49:12; Ezek. 25:4; Joel 3:18). It is also a symbol of the rudiments of doctrine (1 Cor. 3:2; Heb. 5:12, Heb. 5:13), and of the unadulterated word of God (1 Pet. 2:2).

(2.) Heb. hem'ah, always rendered "butter" in the Authorized Version. It means "butter," but also more frequently "cream," or perhaps, as some think, "curdled milk," such as that which Abraham set before the angels ( Gen. 18:8), and which Jael gave to Sisera ( Judg. 5:25). In this state milk was used by travellers (2 Sam. 17:29). If kept long enough, it acquired a slightly intoxicating or soporific power.

This Hebrew word is also sometimes used for milk in general ( Deut. 32:14; Job 20:17).

Mill - for grinding corn, mentioned as used in the time of Abraham ( Gen. 18:6). That used by the Hebrews consisted of two circular stones, each 2 feet in diameter and half a foot thick, the lower of which was called the "nether millstone" ( Job 41:24) and the upper the "rider." The upper stone was turned round by a stick fixed in it as a handle. There were then no public mills, and thus each family required to be provided with a hand-mill. The corn was ground daily, generally by the women of the house ( Isa. 47:1,Isa. 47:2; Matt. 24:41). It was with the upper stone of a hand-mill that "a certain woman" at Thebez broke Abimelech's skull ( Judg. 9:53, "a piece of a millstone;" literally, "a millstone rider", i.e., the "runner," the stone which revolves. Comp. 2 Sam. 11:21). Millstones could not be pledged ( Deut. 24:6), as they were necessary in every family.