Ark of the Covenant - Bible History Online
Bible History

Naves Topical Bible Dictionary

meroz Summary and Overview

Bible Dictionaries at a GlanceBible Dictionaries at a Glance

meroz in Easton's Bible Dictionary

a plain in the north of Israel, the inhabitants of which were severely condemned because they came not to help Barak against Sisera (Judg. 5:23: compare 21:8-10; 1 Sam. 11:7). It has been identified with Marassus, on a knoll to the north of Wady Jalud, but nothing certainly is known of it. Like Chorazin, it is only mentioned in Scripture in connection with the curse pronounced upon it.

meroz in Smith's Bible Dictionary

(refuge), a place, #Jud 5:23| denounced because its inhabitants had refused to take any part in the struggle with Sisera. Meroz must have been in the neighborhood of the Kishon, but its real position is not known. Possibly it was destroyed in the obedience to the curse.

meroz in Schaff's Bible Dictionary

ME'ROZ (refuge), a place in the northern part of Palestine, the inhabitants of which were accursed for not having taken the field with Barak against Sisera. Jud 5:23. Wylie supposes the ruins el-Mazraah, near the river Kishon, to mark the site of Meroz; Wilson prefers Kefr-Musa, south of Tabor; and Thomson Meiron, 6 miles west of Safed, as the representative of Meroz.

meroz in Fausset's Bible Dictionary

("asylum".) Judges 5:23, "curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord against the mighty" (rather among Israel's mighty ones). They gave asylum to the fleeing Canaanites accursed of God, whereas Jael who slew their general is "blessed" (Judges 5:24). Bather their sin was omission (faint-heartedness, neutrality where there can be no real neutrality: Matthew 12:30; Matthew 25:30), they neglected the duty of coming to Israel's help in the struggle against God's foes. If Meroz be Merasas or Murussus, a ruin four miles N.W. of Beisan on the southern slopes of the hills continuing "little Hermon," they had command of the pass and might have prevented the escape m that quarter of any of Sisera's host. Bather Kerr Musr on the S. of Tabor (Raumer). The Angel of Jehovah who fought for Israel at Megiddo pronounces, through Deborah, Meroz' curse.