MICHMETHAH crIMM1; Sept. 'IKaa,u6P, AnXaini9- ; Alex. MaxS-LA- ; Machmethath), a town on the northern border of Ephraim ( Josh. xvi. 6). In defining the boundaries of Manasseh Joshua says of Michmethah that it is before, or in the face of; Shechem' (nnty +nil/ xvii. 7), which may mean either that it was situated opposite to it within sight, or east of it. This note fixes the site of Michmethah, locating it a short distance from Shechem, and probably on its east side. It seems difficult, however, to reconcile this with the words of chap. xvi. 6, the only other passage in which the name occurs : The border of Ephraim . . on the east side was Ataroth-addar, unto Beth boron the upper; and the border went out to the sea (or westward, rityr) to the Illichmath (rironmnri) on the north' ()inn). From this it would appear as if Michmath (the final ii is local) lay on the sea coast, at the north-western border of Ephraim ; and if so it cannot be identical with the Michmath near Shechem. It is not unusual to find the same
name applied to two cities. Reland supposes that the two words in xvii. 7 should be united, and that the passage ought to be read, And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher-Hammichmethak,' etc., and this view would favour the theory that this city was different from the former Michmath; but the Masoretic text will not bear Reland's interpre tation (Reland, Pal., p. 596). Michmethah is not mentioned by Eusebius or Jerome, and its site is unknown. With our present data it is impossible to determine whether the sacred writer refers to one town or two. If to one town only, then it must have been situated near Shechem, and the meaning of Josh. xvi. 6 will be : The border went out to (or along) the west side (rivr) to Mich math on the north.' We have no authority, from either MSS. or ancient versions, for saying with Keil that the text of this verse is corrupt (Keil, ad loc.)—J. L. P.