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mer-ib-bā´al (מריב־בּעל, merı̄bhba‛al; also מרי־בעל, merı̄-bha‛al, “Baal contendsâ€): The spelling varies in a single verse; contains the name twice: first, in the first form above; second, in the second form. The name is given also in . It is the other name of MEPHIBOSHETH (2) (which see).
In and the terms “Baal†and “Bosheth†seem to stand in apposition, the latter form being a slightly contemptuous alternative rendered “shame.†This is akin to other like changes, such as Esh-baal for Ish-bosheth, Jerub-besheth for Jerub-baal, etc. The change in the first part of the name could occur through a clerical confusion of the Hebrew aspirate pē (p) and rēsh (r) in Hebrew.