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 (Joshua 16:6; 17:7). - MICHRI prize of Jehovah, a Benjamite, the father of Uzzi (1 Chronicles
9:8). - MICHTAM writing; i.e., a poem or song found in the titles of Psalm 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 (Joshua 15:61). - MIDIAN strife, the fourth son of Abraham by Keturah, the father of the
Midianites (Genesis 25:2; 1 Chronicles 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 (Genesis 37:28, 36). The next notice
of them is in connection with Moses’ flight from Egypt (Exodus 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