Real VoicesReal Voices
← Encyclopedia A–Z

Encyclopedia entry

Michmas Or Michmash

(hidden), a town which is known to us almost solely by its connection with the Philistine war of Saul and Jonathan. (1 Samuel 13:1; 1 Samuel 14:1) ... It has been identified with great probability in a village which still bears the name of Mukhmas, about seven miles north of Jerusalem. The place was thus situated in the very middle of the tribe of Benjamin. In the invasion of Sennacherib in the reign of Hezekiah, it is mentioned by Isaiah. (Isaiah 10:28) After the captivity the man of the place returned. (Ezra 2:27; Nehemiah 7:31) At a later date it became the residence of Jonathan Maccabaeus and the seat of his government. 1 Macc. 9:73. In the time of Eusebius and Jerome it was “a very large village, retaining its ancient name, and lying near Ramah in the district of AElia (Jerusalem), at ten miles distance therefrom.” Immediately below the village the great wady spreads out to a considerable width—perhaps half a mile; and its bed is broken up into an intricate mass of hummocks and mounds, two of which, before the torrents of three thousand winters had reduced and rounded their forms, were probably the two “teeth of cliff”—the Bozes and Seneh of Jonathan’s adventure.

In the Bible

11

Verses where Michmas Or Michmash is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).

  • 1 Samuel 13:2

    He chose for himself three thousand men of Israel: Two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. And the rest of the troops he sent away, each to his own home.

  • 1 Samuel 13:5

    Now the Philistines assembled to fight against Israel with three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

  • 1 Samuel 13:11

    “What have you done?” Samuel asked. And Saul replied, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me, and that you did not come at the appointed time and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash,

  • 1 Samuel 13:16

    Now Saul and Jonathan his son and the troops with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Michmash.

  • 1 Samuel 13:23

    And a garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass at Michmash.

  • 1 Samuel 14:5

    One cliff stood to the north toward Michmash, and the other to the south toward Geba.

+5 more verses naming Michmas Or Michmash.

Scripture on Michmas Or Michmash

6

See all 6 +

Michmas Or Michmash references

13

See all 13 +

Sources · Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884)

Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.