MARESHAH (ma-re'sha), (Het). ntar-ay thaw', summit).
1. A town in the tribe of Judah (Josh. xv:44), rebuilt and fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chron. xl: 8). The Ethiopians under Zerah were defeated by Asa in the valley near Mareshah (2 Chron. xiv:9-t3). It was laid desolate by Judas Macca bxus, on his march from Hebron to Ashdod (1 Mace. v :65-68; Joseph. Antiq. xii:8, 6). sephus mentions it among the towns possessed by Alexander Jannwus, which had been in the hands of the Syrians (Antiq. xiii:t5, 4); hut by Pompey it was restored to the former inhab itants, and attached to the province of Syria (xiv. 4. 4). Maresa was among the towns re built by Gabinius (Antiq. xiv. 5. 3), but was again destroyed by the Parthians in their irruption against Herod (xiv. 5. 3). A place so often mentioned in history must have been of consider able importance; but it does not appear that it was ever again rebuilt. The site, however, is set down by Eusebius and Jerome (Onontast. s. v.
Morasthi). as within two miles of Eleutheropolis, but the direction is not stated. Dr. Robinson (Bibl. Researches, ii. 422) found, at a mile and a half south of the site of Eleutheropolis, a re markable tell, or artificial hill, with foundation. of some buildings. As there are no other ruins in the vicinity, and as the site is admirably suited for a fortress, this, he supposes, may have been Mareshah. Conder suggested el-Morah, south of the valley of Elah, as Mareshah, but lately has accepted Werash as the site.
2. The "father" of Hebron; in the line of Ju dah (1 Chron. ii:42), by which it is apparently meant that he was the progenitor of the inhab itants of Hebron. (B. C. 19o.) 3. Son of Laadah, of the family of Shelah; perhaps the founder of a place by the same name Chron. iv:21). Perhaps identical with 2. (I3.C. about 1612.)