MOREH
Moreh
(Heb. Moreh’, , an archer, as in 1Sa 31:3, etc., or teaching, as in Isa 9:14), an old title that appears in the designation of two localities of central Palestine.
1. Apparently a Canaanite (perhaps a chief, like Mamre), B.C. 2088, owning or inhabiting the region south of Shechem, from whom the grove (, oak [also in the plur.], Auth.Vers. “plain”) of Moreh derived its name as early as the time of Abraham, who made this his first tarrying- place in the land (Gen 12:6, where the Sept. has ,Vulg. convallis illustris), a designation that continued till the exode (Deu 11:30, Sept. ,Vulg. vallis tendens et intrans procul) “the first of that long succession of sacred and venerable trees which dignified the chief places of Palestine, and formed not the least interesting link in the chain which so indissolubly united the land to the history of the nation. See OAK. Here Jehovah ‘appeared’ to Abraham, who here built the first of the series of altars (it may be roughly said that Abraham built altars, Isaac dug wells, Jacob erected stones) which marked the various spots of his residence in the Promised Land, and dedicated it ‘to Jehovah, who appeared , again, as if a play upon the name of the place) unto him’ (Gen 12:7). It was at the ‘place of Shechem’ (Gen 12:6), close to () the mountains of Ebal and Gerizim (Deu 11:30), where the Samar.
Cod. adds ‘over against Shechem.’ Sir 1:26 perhaps contains a play on the name Moreh that foolish people ( ) who dwell in Sichem.’ If the pun existed in the Hebrew text, it may have been between Sichem and Sichor (drunken). A trace of this ancient name, curiously reappearing after many centuries, is probably to be found in Morthia, which is given on some ancient coins as one of the titles of Neapolis, i.e., Shechem, and by Pliny and Josephus as Mamortha or Mabortha (Reland, Diss. 3: 8). The latter states (War, 4:8, 1) that it was the name by which the place was called by the country people’ (), who thus kept alive the ancient appellation, just as the peasants of Hebron did that of Kirjath-arba down to the date of Sir John Mande-ille’s visit.” From the notices given, the grove of Moreh appears to have been a forest occupying the ridge afterwards known as the mountains of Ephraim. (The treatise of Chr. J. Grabener, De Allon Moreh, Lips. 1737, is valueless.)
2. An eminence (hill of Moreh, , i.e., teacher’s hill; Sept. v.r. ,Vulg. collis excelsus) in the valley of Jezreel, on the north side of the well of Harod, near which the Midianitish host was encamped when attacked by Gideon (Jdg 7:1); probably identical with that known as Little Hermon, the modern Jebel ed- Duhy (see Bertheau, Comment. ad loc.), or, rather, one of the lower southern spurs of this mountain (where ruins are still extant), since it is itself too lofty (1839 feet, Van de Velde, Memoir, page 178) for a military encampment. It is a bare gray ridge parallel to Mount Gilboa on the north, and between them lay the battle-field. No doubt although the fact is not mentioned the enemy kept near the foot of Mount Moreh, for the sake of some spring or springs which issued from its base, as the AinCharod did from that on which Gideon was planted. SEE HAROD.
The hostile camp probably extended from the village of Shunem on the west down to the strong city of Bethshan on the east, for we are told that “the Midianites and the Amalekites, and all the children of the east, lay along the valley like grasshoppers for multitude” (Jdg 7:12). The mountain is the site not only of Shunem, but also of Endor and Nain (see Porter, Handbook, page 357 sq.). Whether this place has any connection with the preceding is doubtful; and it is still more unlikely that either is related to Moriah, as thought by Stanley (Sin. and Pal. pages 141, 232). Van de Velde locates the battle too far south (Syr. and Pal. 2:341). SEE GIDEON.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Moreh
an archer, teacher; fruitful. (1.) A Canaanite probably who inhabited the district south of Shechem, between Mounts Ebal and Gerizim, and gave his name to the “plain” there (Gen. 12:6). Here at this “plain,” or rather (R.V.) “oak,” of Moreh, Abraham built his first altar in the land of Palestine; and here the Lord appeared unto him. He afterwards left this plain and moved southward, and pitched his tent between Bethel on the west and Hai on the east (Gen. 12:7, 8).
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Moreh
1. “The plains,” rather “the oaks” or “terebinths” of Moreh. Abram’s first halting place in Canaan, near Shechem and Ebal and Gerizim mountains (Gen 12:6); here he erected his first altar. “Morthia,” on ancient coins, a title of Shechem, preserves the name Moreh. Under the same “oak” Jacob hid his household’s idols (Gen 35:4). Here Joshua set up a great stone by the sanctuary of Jehovah (Jos 24:26, compare Deu 11:30).
2. THE HILL OF MOREH. At its foot Midian and Amalek encamped before Gideon’s attack (Jdg 6:33; Jdg 7:1). On the northern side of the valley of Jezreel, and of the height where Gideon’s 300 were; jebel ed Duhy, “little Hermon,” answers to Moreh. Two or three miles intervene (enough for Midian’s and Amalek’s hosts) between Moreh and ain Jalood, the spring of “Harod” at the foot of Gideon’s hill, jebel Fukua (Gilboa).
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Moreh,
MOREH, the Hiphil participle from yrh, means teacher or one who gives direction (2Ki 17:28, Isa 30:20 etc.), and so is applied to a prophet (Isa 9:15). Sitting in the shelter of a sacred tree, the priest or seer delivered his direction or oracles. 1. The terebinth (AV [Note: Authorized Version.] , wrongly, plain) of Moreh (Gen 12:6) may have been so named from the theophany vouchsafed to Abraham there. The same spot may be indicated by the terebinths of Moreh (Deu 11:30), mentioned as indicating the position of Ebal and Gerizim. From their conjunction with Gilgal it has been suggested that the gilgal (stone circle) and the terebinths were parts of the same sanctuary. There may be a reference to this place in Gen 35:4, in Jos 24:26, possibly also in Jdg 9:6. Gilgal (Deu 11:30) may be Khirbet Juleijel, fully 11/2 mile E. of Jacobs Well. But this would not fix with certainty the position of the sanctuary of the terebinth.
2. The hill of Moreh (Jdg 7:1) seems to have lain to the N. of the position occupied by Gideon, in the direction of the camp of the Midianites. Taking the narrative as it stands, the Midianites pitched in the valley of Jezreel (Jdg 6:33), while Gideon held the lower spurs of Gilboa towards Jezreel. The spring of Harod is with some probability identified with Ain Jald. The conspicuous hill on the other side of the vale, Jebel ed-Duhy, popularly now called Little Hermon, round the W. flanks of which, and northward in the plain, the Midianites would spread, may be almost certainly identified with the Hill of Moreh. The article with Moreh suggests the presence of a sanctuary on the hill. This may be represented by the modern shrine of Neby Duhy. Questions have been raised by the condition of the Heb. text, but no more probable identification has been suggested. Cf. Moreh.
W. Ewing.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Moreh
H4176
1. A plain near Shechem and Gilgal
Gen 12:6; Deu 11:30
2. A hill in the plain of Jezreel where the Midianites encamped
Jdg 7:1; Jdg 7:12
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Moreh
Moreh (m’reh). 1. The halting place of Abram after his entrance into the land of Canaan. Gen 12:6. It was near Shechem, Gen 12:1-20; Gen 6:1-22, and the mountains Ebal and Gerizim. Deu 11:30. 2. The hill of Moreh, where the Midianites and Amalekites were encamped before Gideon’s attack upon them. Jdg 7:1. It lay in the valley of Jezreel, on the north side.
Fuente: People’s Dictionary of the Bible
Moreh
Mo’reh. (teacher).
1. The plain or plains, (or, as it should rather be rendered, the oak or oaks), of Moreh. The oak of Moreh was the first recorded halting-place of Abram, after his entrance into the land of Canaan. Gen 12:6. It was at the “place of Shechem,” Gen 12:6, close to the mountains of Ebal and Gerizim. Deu 11:30.
2. The hill of Moreh, at the foot of which the Midianites and Amalekites were encamped, before Gideon’s attack upon them. Jdg 7:1. It lay in the valley of Jezreel, rather on the north side of the valley, and north also of the eminence on which Gideon’s little band of heroes was clustered.
These conditions are most accurately fulfilled, if we assume Jebel ed-Duhy, the “Little Hermon” of the modern travellers, 1815 feet above the Mediterranean, to be Moreh, the Ain-Jalood to be the spring of Harod, and Gideon’s position to have been on the northeast slope of Jebel Fukua, (Mount Gilboa), between the village of Nuris, and the last-mentioned spring.
Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary
MOREH
near Shechem
Gen 12:6; Deu 11:30; Jdg 7:1