MICHMAS, MICHMASH (rnik'mas, mash), (Heb.1:";F?, mik-mash', something hidden; V;;‘2, mik-maws'), a town of Benjamin (Ezra ii:27; Nell. xi:31; comp. vii:it), east of Beth-aven (I Sam. xiii:5), and south from Migron, on the road to Jerusalem (Is. x:28).
The words of I Sam. xiii :2 ; xiv :4, and Is.
x :29, show that at Michmas was a pass whcrc the progress of a military body might be impeded or opposed. It was perhaps for this reason that Jonathan Maccaboeus fixed his abode at Mich mas (1 Mace. ix :73) ; and it is from the chival rous exploit of another hero of the same name, the son of Saul, that the place is chiefly celebrated (1 Satn. xiii ; xiv :4-16). Eusebius describes Mich mash as a large village nine Roman miles from Jerusalem on thc road to Rainah (Ononzast, s. v. Maxid). Travelers have usually identified it with Bir or El-Birch; but Dr. Robinson (Researches, ii :117) recognizes it in a place still bearing the name of Mukhmas, at a distance and position which correspond well with these intimations. This is a village situated upon a slope to the north of a valley called Wady cs-Suweinit. It is small,
and almost desolate, but bears marks of hav ing been once a place of strength and importance. There arc many. foundations of huge stones, and some columns lie among thcm. The valley es Suweinit, steep and precipitous, is probably the 'passage of Michmash' mentioned in Scripture. 'In it,' says Dr. Robinson, 'just at the left of where wc crossed. arc two hills of a conical, or rather spherical, form, having steep rocky sides, with small wadies running up between cach so as almost to isolate them. One of them is on the side towards Jeba (Gibeah), and the other to wards Mukhmas. These would seem to be the two rocks mentioned in connection with Jona• than's adventure (I Sam. xiv :4, 5). They are not, indeed, so "sharp" as the language of Scrip ture would seem to imply ; but they are the only rocks of the kind in this vicinity. The northern one is connected towards the west with an emi nence still more distinctly isolated.'