The Mehunims, also referred to as Meunites in some translations, are a group mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. They are identified as a people living in the region of Edom, south of the Dead Sea. The Mehunims are noted for their interactions and conflicts with the Israelites during the period of the kings.

Biblical References:

1. 2 Chronicles 26:7 : "God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabs who lived in Gur-baal, and against the Meunites." This verse highlights the divine assistance given to King Uzziah of Judah in his military campaigns. The Mehunims are listed among the groups that Uzziah successfully subdued, indicating their presence as adversaries during his reign.

2. 1 Chronicles 4:41 : "These who were recorded by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and attacked their tents and the Meunites who were found there, and devoted them to destruction to this day, and settled in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks." This passage describes the actions taken by the descendants of Simeon during the reign of King Hezekiah. The Simeonites attacked the Mehunims, taking over their territory due to its suitability for grazing.

3. Ezra 2:50 : "the descendants of Asnah, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephusim." In this context, the Meunim are listed among the groups of people who returned from the Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel. This suggests that some Mehunims were integrated into the Israelite community over time.

Historical and Cultural Context:

The Mehunims are believed to have been a nomadic or semi-nomadic people, possibly related to the Edomites or other Arabian tribes. Their mention in the context of military campaigns and territorial disputes suggests they were a significant presence in the region during the time of the Israelite monarchy.

The interactions between the Mehunims and the Israelites reflect the broader geopolitical dynamics of the ancient Near East, where various tribes and nations frequently engaged in conflicts over land and resources. The biblical narrative portrays these interactions as part of God's providential plan for Israel, with victories attributed to divine intervention.

Theological Significance:

From a theological perspective, the accounts involving the Mehunims underscore themes of divine assistance and judgment. The victories over the Mehunims, as recorded in the Chronicles, are seen as evidence of God's favor towards the obedient kings of Judah, such as Uzziah and Hezekiah. These narratives serve to remind the faithful of God's sovereignty and the importance of reliance on Him in times of conflict.

The inclusion of the Meunim in the list of returnees from exile in the book of Ezra also highlights the theme of restoration and the gathering of diverse peoples into the covenant community of Israel. This reflects the broader biblical motif of God's redemptive plan extending beyond ethnic and national boundaries.Habitations, (2 Chronicles 26:7; R.V. "Meunim, " Vulg. Ammonitae), a people against whom Uzziah waged a successful war. This word is in Hebrew the plural of Ma'on, and thus denotes the Maonites who inhabited the country on the eastern side of the Wady el-Arabah. They are again mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:41 (R.V.), in the reign of King Hezekiah, as a Hamite people, settled in the eastern end of the valley of Gedor, in the wilderness south of Palestine. In this passage the Authorized Version has "habitation," erroneously following the translation of Luther.

They are mentioned in the list of those from whom the Nethinim were made up (Ezra 2:50; Nehemiah 7:52).

4586. Meunim -- a people Southeast of the Dead Sea
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition a people SE of the Dead Sea
NASB Word Usage Meunim (2), Meunites (3). Mehunims, Meunim. ...
/hebrew/4586.htm - 6kMehunims (1 Occurrence)
...Mehunims (1 Occurrence). 2 Chronicles 26:7 And God helped him against the Philistines,
and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims. ...
/m/mehunims.htm - 7k

Mehunim (2 Occurrences)
... Mehunim (2 Occurrences). 2 Chronicles 26:7 And God helped him against the Philistines,
and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims. ...
/m/mehunim.htm - 7k

Gurbaal (1 Occurrence)
... Gurbaal (1 Occurrence). 2 Chronicles 26:7 And God helped him against the Philistines,
and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims. (KJV). ...
/g/gurbaal.htm - 7k

Mejarkon (1 Occurrence)

/m/mejarkon.htm - 7k

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