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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJames Hastings Dictionary of the Bible: Mareshah
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MARESHAH.—1. The ‘father’ of Hebron (1Ch_2:42). 2. A Judahite (1Ch_4:21). These genealogical data are really concerned with—3. An important city in the Shephçlah of Judah (Jos_15:44), fortified by Rehoboam (2Ch_11:8; see also 2Ch_14:9-10; 2Ch_20:37, Mic_1:15). Later on, under the name Marissa, Josephus describes (Ant. XII. viii. 6 etc.) its extremely chequered history. The site of Mareshah has now with certainty been identified as Tell Sandahanna. This tell was partially excavated by Bliss and Macalister, but the identity of the site was finally demonstrated by the finding, in 1902, of a tomb by Messrs. Peters and Tiersch, adorned with a number of interesting pictured animals, etc., and about 200 inscriptions recording the names of many Phœnician inhabitants of Marissa, about b.c. 200. The hill on which the ruins of Mareshah stand is riddled with the most extraordinary caves, once human dwellings. The old name Mareshah still lingers in Khurbet Merash, the name of some ruins about half a mile off. See also Marisa.
E. W. G. Masterman.