Meroz
Me'roz (Hebrews Meroz', מֵרוֹז, perh., as suggested by Gesenius, for מֶארֵוֹז, from the Arabic, refuge; but Furst disapproves of this etymology; Sept. Μηρώζ, V ulg. terra Meroz), a place in the northern part of Palestine, the inhabitants of which were severely reprehended (Jg 5:23) for not having taken the field with Barak against Sisera (comp. Jg 21:8-10; 1Sa 11:7). It would seem as if they had had an opportunity of rendering some particular and important service to the public cause which they neglected (see Dr. Robinson's note in the Bib. Repos. 1831, p. 606). The tradition of its site was lost as early as the time of Procopius of Gaza, who had attempted in vain to recover it (Reland, Palaest. p. 896). Possibly the city was utterly destroyed in consequence of the curse. In the Jewish traditions preserved in the Commentary on the Song of Deborah attributed to Jerome, Meroz, which may be interpreted as secret,, is made to signify the. evil angels who led on the Canaanites, and are cursed by Michael, the angel of Jehovah, the leader of the Israelites. Eusebius and Jerome (Onomast. s.v. Merrus) fix it twelve Roman miles from Sebaste, on the road to Dothaim; but this position would place it south of the field of battle, and therefore scarcely agrees with the history. Schwarz (Palest. p. 36) says it is mentioned in the Talmud under the name of Marchesheth or Maresheth, and locates it (ib. p. 168) at the village, of Murussus, two or three miles north or north-west of Bethshan, on the line of hills separating the basin of Tayibeh from the valley of Jezreel (Robinson's Researches, new ed. 3:339). The town must have commanded the Pass, and if any of Sisera's people attempted, as the Midianites did when routed by Gideon, to escape in that direction, its inhabitants might no doubt have prevented their doing so, and have slaughtered them. Furst (Lex. s.v.) suggests that it was a locality in a district of Galilee partly inhabited-by Gentiles (1Ki 9:11), not far from Kedesh-Naphtali, and consequently in the neighborhood of the Lake Merom, perhaps the locality (reading מֵרוֹם, high place) which gave name to the lake itself. Wilson (Lands of the Bible, 2:89) identifies it with the Kefr-Mesr, on the southern slope of Mount Tabor, and this Van de Velde approves (Memoir, p. 334). Thomson thinks it may be the present Meiron, a famous Jewish cemetery six miles west of Safed; this would be between Barak's residence and Tabor (Jg 4:12), and therefore render the inhabitants liable to a summons to arms by the Hebrew general (Land and Book, 1:424). This last place is possibly the Meroth, strongly fortified by Josephus (Life, p. 37; War, 2:20, 6; 3:3, 1).
