covenant (q.v.). It was of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, or perhaps
rather a plate of solid gold, 2 1/2 cubits long and 1 1/2 broad (Exodus
25:17; 30:6; 31:7). It is compared to the throne of grace (Hebrews 9:5;
Ephesians 2:6). The holy of holies is called the “place of the mercy-seat”
(1 Chronicles 28:11: Leviticus 16:2).
It has been conjectured that the censer (thumiaterion, meaning “anything
having regard to or employed in the burning of incense”) mentioned in
Hebrews 9:4 was the “mercy-seat,” at which the incense was burned by
the high priest on the great day of atonement, and upon or toward which
the blood of the goat was sprinkled (Leviticus 16:11-16; comp. Numbers
7:89 and Exodus 25:22).
- MERED rebellion, one of the sons of Ezra, of the tribe of Judah (1
Chronicles 4:17). - MEREMOTH exaltations, heights, a priest who returned from Babylon
with Zerubbabel (Nehemiah 12:3), to whom were sent the sacred vessels
(Ezra 8:33) belonging to the temple. He took part in rebuilding the walls of
Jerusalem (Nehemiah 3:4). - MERIBAH quarrel or strife. (1.) One of the names given by Moses to the
fountain in the desert of Sin, near Rephidim, which issued from the rock in
Horeb, which he smote by the divine command, “because of the chiding of
the children of Israel” (Exodus 17:1-7). It was also called Massah (q.v.). It
was probably in Wady Feiran, near Mount Serbal.
(2.) Another fountain having a similar origin in the desert of Zin, near to
Kadesh (Numbers 27:14). The two places are mentioned together in
Deuteronomy 33:8. Some think the one place is called by the two names
(Psalm 81:7). In smiting the rock at this place Moses showed the same
impatience as the people (Numbers 20:10-12). This took place near the
close of the wanderings in the desert (Numbers 20:1-24; Deuteronomy
32:51).