- MEMUCAN dignified, one of the royal counsellors at the court of
Ahasuerus, by whose suggestion Vashti was divorced (Esther 1:14, 16,
21). - MENAHEM conforting, the son of Gadi, and successor of Shallum, king of
Israel, whom he slew. After a reign of about ten years (B.C. 771-760) he
died, leaving the throne to his son Pekahiah. His reign was one of cruelty
and oppression (2 Kings 15:14-22). During his reign, Pul (q.v.), king of
Assyria, came with a powerful force against Israel, but was induced to
retire by a gift from Menahem of 1,000 talents of silver. - MENE (Daniel 5:25, 26), numbered, one of the words of the mysterious
inscription written “upon the plaister of the wall” in Belshazzar’s palace
at Babylon. The writing was explained by Daniel. (See BELSHAZZAR.) - MENI Isaiah 65:11, marg. (A.V., “that number;” R.V., “destiny”),
probably an idol which the captive Israelites worshipped after the example
of the Babylonians. It may have been a symbol of destiny. LXX., tuche. - MEONENIM (Judges 9:37; A.V., “the plain of Meonenim;” R.V., “the
oak of Meonenim”) means properly “soothsayers” or “sorcerers,”
“wizards” (Deuteronomy 18:10, 14; 2 Kings 21:6; Micah 5:12). This may
be the oak at Shechem under which Abram pitched his tent (see
SHECHEM), the “enchanter’s oak,” so called, perhaps, from Jacob’s
hiding the “strange gods” under it (Genesis 35:4). - MEPHAATH splendour, a Levitical city (Joshua 21:37) of the tribe of
Reuben (13:18). - MEPHIBOSHETH exterminator of shame; i.e., of idols. (1.) The name of
Saul’s son by the concubine Rizpah (q.v.), the daughter of Aiah. He and
his brother Armoni were with five others “hanged on a hill before the
Lord” by the Gibeonites, and their bodies exposed in the sun for five
months (2 Samuel 21:8-10). (2.) The son of Jonathan, and grandson of Saul
(2 Samuel 4:4). He was but five years old when his father and grandfather
fell on Mount Gilboa. The child’s nurse hearing of this calamity, fled with
him from Gibeah, the royal residence, and stumbling in her haste, the child
was thrown to the ground and maimed in both his feet, and ever after was
unable to walk (19:26). He was carried to the land of Gilead, where he
found a refuge in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar, by
whom he was brought up.
kiana
(Kiana)
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