Michmash

1 definition found

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Michmash
     something hidden, a town of Benjamin (Ezra 2:27), east of Bethel
     and south of Migron, on the road to Jerusalem (Isa. 10:28). It
     lay on the line of march of an invading army from the north, on
     the north side of the steep and precipitous Wady es-Suweinit
     ("valley of the little thorn-tree" or "the acacia"), and now


     bears the name of Mukhmas. This wady is called "the passage of
     Michmash" (1 Sam. 13:23). Immediately facing Mukhmas, on the
     opposite side of the ravine, is the modern representative of
     Geba, and behind this again are Ramah and Gibeah.
     
       This was the scene of a great battle fought between the army
     of Saul and the Philistines, who were utterly routed and pursued
     for some 16 miles towards Philistia as far as the valley of
     Aijalon. "The freedom of Benjamin secured at Michmash led
     through long years of conflict to the freedom of all its kindred
     tribes." The power of Benjamin and its king now steadily
     increased. A new spirit and a new hope were now at work in
     Israel. (See {SAUL}.)