Meroz

views updated

MEROZ

MEROZ (Heb. מֵרוֹז), an unidentified locality, which is cursed in the Song of Deborah (Judg. 5:23) because the inhabitants refused to help the prophetess and Barak in their war against Siserah. Suggested identifications for Meroz are Mazar on Mt. Gilboa or al-Ruz near al-Lajjūn.

bibliography:

J.J. Garstang, Joshua-Judges (1931), 396; Abel, Geog, 2 (1938), 385; A. Alt, in: zaw, 58 (1941), 244ff.

[Michael Avi-Yonah]