MICHMASH
MICHMASH
A town of Benjamin, nine miles north by east of Jerusalem, Neh 7:31 ; 11:31. It was a strong position and lay on the north side of a deep valley; for which reasons perhaps Sennacherib, on his way to Jerusalem, left his heavy equipage there, Isa 10:28,29 . In this deep valley, a little west of the town, are two steep hills or rocks, supposed to be the ones referred to in the account of Jonathan’s achievement at “the passage of Michmash,” 1Sa 13:23 ; 14:4. Dr. Robinson found here a village called Mukhmas, which appeared to be the remnant of a town of some size and importance.
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Michmash
(1Sa 13:2-23; 1Sa 14:5; 1Sa 14:31; Neh 11:31; Isa 10:28). SEE MICHMAS.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Michmash (2)
On this interesting locality, Lieut. Consider remarks as follows (Tent Work, 2:112 sq.):
“The site of the Philistine camp at Michmash, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer attacked, is very minutely described by Josephus. It was, he says, a precipice with three tops, ending in a long, sharp tongue, and protected by surrounding cliffs. Exactly such a natural fortress exists immediately east of the village of Michmash, and it is still called “the fort” by the peasantry. It is a ridge rising in three rounded knolls above a perpendicular crag, ending in a narrow tongue to the east, with cliffs below, and having an open valley behind it, and a saddle towards the west on which Michmash itself is situate. Opposite this fortress, on the south, there is a crag of equal height and seemingly impassable; thus the description of the Old Test. is fully borne out ‘a sharp rock on one side, and a sharp rock on the other’ (1Sa 14:4).
“The southern cliff, as we have noticed above, was called Seneh, or ‘the acacia,’ and the same name still applies to the modern valley, due to the acacia-trees which dot its course. The northern cliff was named Bozez, or shining,’ and the true explanation of the name only presents itself on the spot. The great valley runs nearly due east, and thus the southern cliff is almost entirely in shade during the day. The contrast is surprising and picturesque, between the dark, cool color of the south side and the ruddy or tawny tints of the northern cliff, crowned with the gleaming white of the upper chalky strata. The picture is unchanged since the days when Jonathan looked over to the white camping-ground of the Philistines, and Bozez must then have shone as brightly as it does now, in the full light of an Eastern sun.” (See illustration on following page.)
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
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)
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Michmash
1 Samuel 13-14. Now Mukhmas, a poor village of gray huts and ruins, seven miles N. of Jerusalem; on the northern edge of the wady Suweinit, the main pass between the central highlands where Michmash stands and the Jordan valley at Jericho. Opposite Michmash on the other side of the ravine was Geba (Jeba) where was the Philistine garrison, and behind this Gibeah. Jonathan smote the garrison or officer. (See JONATHAN.) The Philistines swarmed up from their seacoast plain, and occupied Michmash so that Saul had to retire to Gilgal near Jericho. Then followed Jonathan’s bold enterprise, which issued in their rout, from Michmash, the farthest point E., to Ajalon on the W. The battle also passed over to Bethaven (Bethel) four miles N. of Michmash (1Sa 14:23.) Josephus (Ant. vi. 6, section 2) says that the part of Michmash held by them consisted of three summits, entrenched by a line of rocks, and ending in a long sharp precipice almost impregnable; here Jonathan and his armorbearer clambered up at their invitation.
Just as 1Sa 14:4 describes, there is what was once a sharp “toothlike rock” on one side of the gorge between the armies, answering to Bozez (“shining”), and another on the other answering to Seneh (thorn). The more timid of the Israelites emerged from the holes (which give Michmash its name (“hidden”); others derive it from Chemosh, marking a Moabite invasion at some time) to join in the pursuit. Sennacherib long after, advancing from the N., left his heavy baggage (“carriages”) at Michmash, and crossing the pass lodged for the night at Geba (Isa 10:28-29). (See GEBA.) Kitchener suggests that Khirbet Haiy is the site of Ai. It is hardly one mile S.E. of Michmash on the old road from Jericho into the interior, and so the first stronghold Joshua would have to overcome. A plain to the N. was the battlefield; and there is room for ambush to hide without being seen by the men of Bethel. Michmash and Ai are closely connected. After the captivity 122 men of Michmash reoccupied their old dwelling (Ezr 2:27; Neh 7:31). Here Jonathan Maccabeus had his seat of government (1Ma 9:73). Eusebius and Jerome (Onomasticon) mention Michmash as near Ramah.
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Michmash
MICHMASH.A place (not enumerated as a town) in the territory of Benjamin, and in the mountains of Bethel. It comes into prominence in connexion with the daring raid made by Jonathan and his armour-bearer upon the Philistines there encamped (1Sa 13:1-23; 1Sa 14:1-52). It was one of the smaller places to which the returning exiles belonged, contributing only 122 men to the enumeration of Ezra (Ezr 2:27) and Nehemiah (Neh 7:31) [in both these last two passages Michmas]. Nehemiah further alludes to it as a border city of Benjamin (Neh 11:31). Indications of its position may be obtained from the Jonathan story and also from Isaiahs picture of the course of an Assyrian raid (Isa 10:28). These indications permit an identification of the site with the modern village of Mukhms, situated in a wild and desolate region near the head of the Wady Kelt. In 1Ki 4:9 for Makaz the LXX [Note: Septuagint.] erroneously reads Michmash. For a time it was the seat of the government of Jonathan Maccabus (1Ma 9:73).
R. A. S. Macalister.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Michmash
A place about nine miles from Jerusalem. (1Sa 13:5) The name is supposed to be derived from Nacah, to strike.
Fuente: The Poor Mans Concordance and Dictionary to the Sacred Scriptures
Michmash
mikmash (, mikhmash; , Machmas): A town in the territory of Benjamin, apparently not of sufficient importance to secure mention in the list of cities given in Jos 18:21 ff. It first appears as occupied by Saul with 2,000 men, when Jonathan, advancing from Gibeah, smote the Philistine garrison in Geba (1Sa 13:2). To avenge this injury, the Philistines came up in force and pitched in Michmash (1Sa 13:5). Saul and Jonathan with 600 men held Geba, which had been taken from the Philistine garrison (1Sa 13:16). It will assist in making clear the narrative if, at this point, the natural features of the place are described.
Michmash is represented by the modern Mukhmas, about 7 miles North of Jerusalem. From the main road which runs close to the watershed, a valley sloping eastward sinks swiftly into the great gorge of Wady es-Suweint. The village of Mukhmas stands to the North of the gorge, about 4 miles East of the carriage road. The ancient path from Ai southward passes to the West of the village, goes down into the valley by a steep and difficult track, and crosses the gorge by the pass, a narrow defile, with lofty, precipitous crags on either side – the only place where a crossing is practicable. To the South of the gorge is Geba, which had been occupied by the Philistines, doubtless to command the pass. Their camp was probably pitched in a position East of Mukhmas, where the ground slopes gradually northward from the edge of the gorge. The place is described by Josephus as upon a precipice with three peaks, ending in a small, but sharp and long extremity, while there was a rock that surrounded them like bulwarks to prevent the attack of the enemy (Ant., VI, vi, 2). Conder confirms this description, speaking of it as a high hill bounded by the precipices of Wady es-Suweint on the South, rising in three flat but narrow mounds, and communicating with the hill of Mukhmas, which is much lower, by a long and narrow ridge. The Philistines purposed to guard the pass against approach from the South. On the other hand they were not eager to risk an encounter with the badly armed Israelites in a position where superior numbers would be of little advantage. It was while the armies lay thus facing each other across the gorge that Jonathan and his armor-bearer performed their intrepid feat (1Sa 14:1 ff). See BOZEZ; SENEH.
It will be noted that the Philistines brought their chariots to Michmash (1Sa 13:5). In his ideal picture of the Assyrian advance on Jerusalem, Isaiah makes the invader lay up his baggage at Michmash so that he might go lightly through the pass (1 Sam 10:28). A company of the men of Michmash (see MICHMAS) returned with Zerubbabel from exile (Ezr 2:27; Neh 7:31). Michmash produced excellent barley. According to the Mishna, to bring barley to Michmash was equivalent to our English to carry coal to Newcastle. Michmash was the seat of government under Jonathan Maccabeus (1 Macc 9:73).
The modern village is stone-built. There are rock-cut tombs to the North. Cisterns supply the water. There are foundations of old buildings, large stones, and a vaulted cistern.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Michmash
H4363
A city of Benjamin
1Sa 13:5
People of the captivity return to, and dwell in
Ezr 2:27; Neh 11:31
Prophecy concerning the king of Assyria storing his baggage at
Isa 10:28
Is garrisoned by Saul
1Sa 13:2
Philistines smitten at, by Jonathan
1Sa 14:31
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Michmash
Mich’mash. (hidden). A town which is known to us, almost solely, by its connection with the Philistine war of Saul and Jonathan. 1Sa 13:1; 1Sa 14:1. It has been identified, with great probability, in a village which still bears the name of Mukhmas, about seven miles north of Jerusalem. The place was, thus, situated in the very middle of the tribe of Benjamin. In the invasion of Sennacherib, in the reign of Hezekiah, it is mentioned by Isaiah. Isa 10:28. After the captivity, the man of the place returned. Ezr 2:27; Neh 7:31.
At a later date, it became the residence of Jonathan Maccabaeus, and the seat of his government. 1Ma 9:73. In the time of Eusebius and Jerome, it was “a very large village, retaining its ancient name, and lying near Ramah in the district of Aelia (Jerusalem), at ten miles distance therefrom.” Immediately below the village, the great wady spreads out to a considerable width — perhaps half a mile; and its bed is broken up into an intricate mass of hummocks and mounds, two of which, before the torrents of three thousand winters had reduced and rounded their forms, were, probably, the two “teeth of cliff” — the Bozes and Seneh of Jonathan’s adventure.
Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary
MICHMASH
a town of Benjamin
1Sa 13:5; Ezr 2:27; Neh 11:31