The Meunim, also referred to as Meunites, are a group mentioned in the Old Testament, primarily associated with the inhabitants of the region surrounding Edom. Their identity and role in biblical history are somewhat obscure, but they are noted in several passages, indicating their interactions with the Israelites and their neighbors.

Biblical References:

1. 2 Chronicles 26:7 · The Meunim are mentioned in the context of King Uzziah's military campaigns. The verse states, "God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabs who lived in Gur-baal, and against the Meunites." This passage highlights the Meunim as one of the groups subdued by Uzziah, suggesting they were a significant enough threat to be specifically mentioned alongside other regional powers.

2. 1 Chronicles 4:41 · This verse refers to the descendants of Simeon who attacked and displaced the Meunim during the reign of Hezekiah. It reads, "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 destroyed them utterly to this day, and lived in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks." This indicates that the Meunim were settled in a region with valuable resources, leading to conflict with the Israelites.

3. Ezra 2:50 and Nehemiah 7:52 · In the post-exilic period, the Meunim are listed among the Nethinim, a group of temple servants who returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel. The verses list the Meunim as part of the temple personnel: "The descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephusim." This suggests that some Meunim were integrated into the Israelite community and played a role in the religious life of the restored Jerusalem.

Historical and Cultural Context:

The Meunim are often associated with the region of Edom, located to the southeast of the Dead Sea. Their mention alongside other groups such as the Philistines and Arabs suggests they were part of the complex network of tribes and peoples inhabiting the Transjordan and Arabian regions. The Meunim's interactions with Israel, as recorded in the Bible, reflect the broader geopolitical dynamics of the ancient Near East, where control over land and resources often led to conflict.

Role in Israelite History:

The Meunim's presence in the biblical narrative underscores the challenges faced by the Israelites in securing their borders and maintaining their territorial integrity. The military campaigns against the Meunim, as well as their eventual integration into the Israelite community as temple servants, illustrate the shifting alliances and cultural exchanges that characterized the ancient world.

The Meunim's inclusion among the Nethinim in the post-exilic period also highlights the diverse composition of the returning exiles and the efforts to rebuild the religious and social structures of Jerusalem. Their role as temple servants indicates a level of acceptance and assimilation into the Israelite community, reflecting the broader theme of redemption and restoration found throughout the biblical narrative.Meunim

dwelling-places; afflicted

Meunim

(habitations). (Nehemiah 7:52) Elsewhere given in Authorized Version as Mehunim and Mehunims.

MEUNIM

me-u'-nim (the King James Version Mehunim).

See MAON.

4586. Meunim -- a people Southeast of the Dead Sea
Meunim or Meinim. 4585, 4586. Meunim or Meinim. 4587 . a people Southeast
of the Dead Sea. Transliteration: Meunim or Meinim Phonetic ...
/hebrew/4586.htm - 6kMeunim (5 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia MEUNIM. me-u'-nim (the King James Version Mehunim).
See MAON. Multi-Version Concordance Meunim (5 Occurrences). ...
/m/meunim.htm - 8k

Maonites (3 Occurrences)
... But the Maonites are evidently identical with the Meunim of 1 Chronicles 4:41
(Revised Version), the pastoral people destroyed by Hezekiah. ...
/m/maonites.htm - 10k

Maon (7 Occurrences)
... But the Maonites are evidently identical with the Meunim of 1 Chronicles 4:41
(Revised Version), the pastoral people destroyed by Hezekiah. ...
/m/maon.htm - 12k

Me-u'nim (3 Occurrences)
Me-u'nim. Meunim, Me-u'nim. Meunites . ... (See RSV). Ezra 2:50 the children of
Asnah, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephisim, (See RSV). ...
/m/me-u'nim.htm - 7k

Meunites (3 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 4:41 And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of
Judah, and smote their tents, and the Meunim that were found there, and ...
/m/meunites.htm - 7k

Nephussim (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Nephussim (2 Occurrences). Ezra 2:50 the children of Asnah,
the children of Meunim, the children of Nephusim; (See NIV). ...
/n/nephussim.htm - 6k

Gur-baal (1 Occurrence)
... Association with the Meunim points to the East. It may be taken as certain that
Jebel Neby Harun, near Petra, has always been crowned by a sanctuary. ...
/g/gur-baal.htm - 7k

Nethinim (16 Occurrences)
... The Meunim, for example (Ezra 2:50 equals Nehemiah 7:52), are in all likelihood
descended from the Meonites or Maonites who are mentioned as harassing Israel ...
/n/nethinim.htm - 18k

Nephi'sim (1 Occurrence)
... Nephi'sim (1 Occurrence). Ezra 2:50 the children of Asnah, the children of Meunim,
the children of Nephusim; (See RSV). Nephisim, Nephi'sim. Nephtali . ...
/n/nephi'sim.htm - 6k

Nephishesim (1 Occurrence)
... Nephishesim (1 Occurrence). Nehemiah 7:52 The children of Besai, the children
of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim, (KJV JPS DBY WBS YLT). ...
/n/nephishesim.htm - 7k

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