An unknown place in Galilee, cursed in the song of Deborah and Barak for not joining with them against the foes of Israel, Jg 5:23. Probably their vicinity to the scene of conflict, or the opportunity they had of rendering some special assistance, rendered their refusal peculiarly guilty.

a plain in the north of Palestine, the inhabitants of which were severely condemned because they came not to help Barak against Sisera (Jg 5:23; comp. Jg 21:8-10; 1Sa 11:7). It has been identified with Marassus, on a knoll to the north of Wady Jalud, but nothing certainly is known of it. Like Chorazin, it is only mentioned in Scripture in connection with the curse pronounced upon it.

("asylum".) Jg 5:23, "curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord against the mighty" (rather among Israel's mighty ones). They gave asylum to the fleeing Canaanites accursed of God, whereas Jael who slew their general is "blessed" (Jg 5:24). Bather their sin was omission (faint-heartedness, neutrality where there can be no real neutrality: Mt 12:30; 25:30), they neglected the duty of coming to Israel's help in the struggle against God's foes. If Meroz be Merasas or Murussus, a ruin four miles N.W. of Beisan on the southern slopes of the hills continuing "little Hermon," they had command of the pass and might have prevented the escape m that quarter of any of Sisera's host. Bather Kerr Musr on the S. of Tabor (Raumer). The Angel of Jehovah who fought for Israel at Megiddo pronounces, through Deborah, Meroz' curse.

A place which the angel of Jahweh bids men curse, together with its inhabitants, because they did not come to fight Jahweh's battle against Sisera. It is mentioned only in Jg 5:23, and probably owes its mention merely to the fact that it 'lay in the line of Sisera's flight' (Moore).

W. O. E. Oesterley.

Mer'oz

Some unknown place, the inhabitants of which were to be cursed bitterly because they came not to the aid of Barak. Jg 5:23.

Me'roz

(refuge), a place,

Jg 5:23

denounced because its inhabitants had refused to take any part in the struggle with Sisera. Meroz must have been in the neighborhood of the Kishon, but its real position is not known. Possibly it was destroyed in the obedience to the curse.

MEROZ, a place in the neighbourhood of the brook Kishon, whose inhabitants, refusing to come to the assistance of their brethren, when they fought with Sisera, were put under an anathema, Jg 5:23.