Meunim, Meunites — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

People living in Edom (Mt Seir, 1 Chr 4:41-42) who were dispossessed of their rich pasturelands by the Simeonites. Later, Meunites from Edom attacked Judah’s King Jehoshaphat (2 Chr 20:1); later still, King Uzziah of Judah defeated them (26:7). Their original land possession, association with Arabs and Ammonites, and prolonged hostility recall Judges 10:11-12, where “Maonites” are named oppressors of Israel. This word, by Hebrew rules of vocalization, could well become “Meunites,” suggesting Maon (Ma’in, Maan) in the Edomite area south of the Dead Sea as their home.

Show passage in OET: CH1 4:41–42

OET-RV CH1 4:41

41 Those listed by name went there in the days of Yehudah’s (Judah’s) King Hizkiyah (Hezekiah) and struck down the tents of the Meunim who were found there. They completely annihilated them (to this day), and they lived there in their place because there was pasture for their flocks there.

OET-RV CH1 4:42

42 Then five hundred of their men who were descendants of Shim’on (Simeon) went to Mt. Se’ir, led by Yishei’s sons Pelatyah, Nearyah, Refayah, and Uziel.

OET-LV CH1 4:41

41 And_ these who_were_written by_names _they _came in_the _days _of Ḩizqiy^yāh the _king _of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) and_they _attacked DOM tents _of_their and_DOM the who they _were _found there_(to) and_they_totally _destroyed _them until the_day the_this and_they _lived in_place _of _them if/because pasture for_flock[s]_of_their was_there.

OET-LV CH1 4:42

42 And_some_of _them of the _descendants _of Shimˊōn they _went to_the _mountain _of Sēˊīr men five hundred(s) and_Pəlaţ^yāh and_Nəˊar^yāh and_Rəfā^yāh and_ˊUzziy^ʼēl the _sons _of Yishˊī/(Ishi) were_at_head _of_their.

Show passage in OET: CH2 20:1

OET-RV CH2 20:1

20 Sometime after that, the Moavim and Amonim, along with some of the Meunim, came to battle against King Yehoshafat (Jehoshaphat).

OET-LV CH2 20:1

20 And_he/it _was afterwards so the _people _of Mōʼāⱱ and_the _sons of _ˊAmmōn they _came and_with_them some_of_the _ˊAmmōnī on Yəhōshāfāţ/(Jehoshaphat) for_battle.

Show passage in OET: CH2 26:7

OET-RV CH2 26:7

7 God helped him against the Pelishtim, against the Aravim who were living in Gur-Ba’al, and against the Meunim.

OET-LV CH2 26:7

7 And_he_helped _him the_ʼElohīm on the_Pəlishtiy and_on the who_were_dwelling in_Gūr baˊal and_the_Məˊūnāy.

Show passage in OET: JDG 10:11–12

OET-RV JDG 10:11

11 “Wasn’t it from the Mitsrim (Egyptians),” Yahweh responded, “from the Amorim, from the Amonim, from the Pelishtim,

OET-RV JDG 10:12

12 the Tsidonim (Sidonians) and Amalek and Maeon, when they oppressed you that you cried out to me, and I rescued you all from them?

OET-LV JDG 10:11

11 And_ YHWH _he/it _said to the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) not from_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) and_from the_ʼAmorī and_from the _people _of ˊAmmōn and_from the_Pəlishtiy.

OET-LV JDG 10:12

12 And_the_Tsīdonī/(Sidonians) and_ˊAmālēq and_Māˊōn they _oppressed you(pl) and_you(pl)_cried _out to_me and_I_delivered you(pl) from_hand _of_their.

Jump to OET CH1 4:41–42 section.

Jump to OET CH2 20:1 section.

Jump to OET CH2 26:7 section.

Jump to OET JDG 10:11–12 section.

The Meunim are listed among the families of temple servants returning to Jerusalem following the exile (Ezr 2:50; Neh 7:52). However, because ancient enemies seem unlikely temple servants, some suggest that these Meunim were descendants of the Caleb clan within Judah to whom another town named Maon, west of the Dead Sea and south of Hebron, was allotted (Jos 15:20, 55 OET JOS 15:20 · OET JOS 15:55). This Maon gave David refuge and another wife (1 Sm 23:24-28; 25).

Show passage in OET: EZR 2:50

OET-RV EZR 2:50

• 50 the descendants of Asnah, Meunim, and Nefushesim,

OET-LV EZR 2:50

50 The _descendants _of ʼAşnāhh the _descendants _of Məˊūnāy the _descendants _of Nephussim.

Show passage in OET: NEH 7:52

OET-RV NEH 7:52

• 52 the descendants of Besay, Meunim, and Nefisim,

OET-LV NEH 7:52

52 The _descendants _of Bēşay the _descendants _of Məˊūnāy the _descendants _of Nephissim.

Show passage in OET: JOS 15:20; JOS 15:55

OET-RV JOS 15:20

20 This is Yehudah’s (Judah’s) inheritance according to their clans:

OET-RV JOS 15:55

55 Also Maeon, Karmel, Zif, Yutah,

OET-LV JOS 15:20

20 This was_the _inheritance _of the _tribe _of the _descendants _of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) to_their_clans.

OET-LV JOS 15:55

55 Māˊōn Karmel/(Carmel) and_Zīf and_Juttah.

Show passage in OET: SA1 23:24–28

OET-RV SA1 23:24

24 So they left and returned to Zif ahead of Sha’ul. At that time, David and his men were in the Maeon wilderness south of Yeshimon

OET-RV SA1 23:25

25 when Sha’ul and his men came to search for them. When David was told, he went further south to a rocky hill therein that wilderness, but Sha’ul also heard that and followed them.

OET-RV SA1 23:26

26 At one point, Sha’ul was on one side of a hill, and David and his men were on the other side. David was hurrying to get away from Sha’ul, but Sha’ul and his men were trying to surround David and his men to capture them.

OET-RV SA1 23:27

27 Just then, a messenger arrived for Sha’ul, saying, “Come quickly because the Pelishtim have raided our region.”

OET-RV SA1 23:28

28 So Sha’ul had to give up chasing David and went to repel the Pelishtim.

OET-LV SA1 23:24

24 And_they _arose and_they _went to_Zīf to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before Shāʼūl and_Dāvid and_men _of_his were_in_the _wilderness _of Māˊōn in_ˊArāⱱāh to the _south _of (the)_Yəshimōn.

OET-LV SA1 23:25

25 And_ Shāʼūl/(Saul) and_men _of_his _he/it _went to_seek_him and_people _told to_Dāvid and_he/it _descended the_rock and_he/it _sat _down//remained//lived in_the _wilderness _of Māˊōn and_ Shāʼūl _he/it _listened and_he _pursued after Dāvid the _wilderness _of Māˊōn.

OET-LV SA1 23:26

26 And_ Shāʼūl _he/it _went from_the _side _of the _mountain from_this and_Dāvid and_men _of_his were_from_the _side _of the _mountain from_this and_he/it _was Dāvid hurrying _away to_go from_face/in _front _of Shāʼūl and_Shāʼūl and_men _of_his were_surrounding (to) Dāvid and_near/to men _of_his to_catch_them.

OET-LV SA1 23:27

27 And_a _messenger he _came to Shāʼūl to_say make_haste and_come if/because the_Pəlishtiy they _have _made _a _raid on the_earth/land.

OET-LV SA1 23:28

28 And_ Shāʼūl _he _turned _back from_pursuing after Dāvid and_he/it _went to_meet the_Pəlishtiy therefore yes/correct/thus/so people _called (to)_place (the)_that Sela Hammahlekoth.

Jump to OET EZR 2:50 section.

Jump to OET NEH 7:52 section.

Jump to OET JOS 15:20 section. · OET JOS 15:55 section.

Jump to OET SA1 23:24–28 section.

This reconstruction involving two groups, two Maons, and temple servants with very foreign names, is tentative. An alternate view holds that hostile foreigners, formerly captured to become temple slaves (cf. Jos 9:7; Ez 44:6-8), attained freedom during the exile and temple-guild status on returning.