moreh Summary and Overview

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 Israel; 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).

(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. #Ge 12:6| It was at the "place of Shechem," ch. #Ge 12:6| close to the mountains of Ebal and Gerizim. #De 11:30| 2. The hill of Moreh, at the foot of which the Midianites and Amalekites were encamped before Gideon's attack upon them. #Jud 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.

MO'REH . 1. The Plain, Plains, or Oaks of Moreh. It is twice noticed in Scripture; first as the halting-place of Abram after his entrance into the land of Canaan. Gen 12:6. It was near Shechem, Gen 12:6, and the mountains Ebal and Gerizim. Deut 11:30. 2. The Hill of Moreh, where the Midianites and Amalekites were encamped before Gideon's attack upon them. Jud 7:1. It lay in the valley of Jezreel, on the north side. It is identified with Ain Jalood, the spring of Harod, and Gideon's position was on the northeast slope of Jebel Fukua (Mount Gilboa), between the village of Nuris and the spring. Little Hermon is 1815 feet above the Mediterranean. On the south is Gilboa. and on the north Tabor.

1. "The plains," rather "the oaks" or "terebinths" of Moreh. Abram's first halting place in Canaan, near Shechem and Ebal and Gerizim mountains (Genesis 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 (Genesis 35:4). Here Joshua set up a great stone by the sanctuary of Jehovah (Joshua 24:26, compare Deuteronomy 11:30). 2. THE HILL OF MOREH. At its foot Midian and Amalek encamped before Gideon's attack (Judges 6:33; Judges 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).