Michmas

Michmas (ˈmɪkmæʃ; מִכְמָשׂ or מִכְמָס) was an Israelite and Jewish town located in the highlands north of Jerusalem. According to the Hebrew Bible, it belonged to the Tribe of Benjamin. It was the setting of the biblical Battle of Michmash, recounted in 1 Samuel 14. Michmas was inhabited during the Second Temple period, when, according to the Mishnah, its fine wheat was brought to the Temple. Michmas is identified with the Palestinian village of Mukhmas in the West Bank, which preserves its ancient name. The nearby Israeli settlement Ma'ale Mikhmas, founded in 1981, is also named after the biblical town. Michmas was located near Geba, east of Bethel and south of Migron, and on the road to Jerusalem. Michmas lay on the line of march of an invading army from the north, on the north side of the steep and precipitous Nahal Michmas stream, known in Arabic as Wadi es-Suweinit ("valley of the little thorn-tree" or "the acacia"). Battle of Michmash The town is known by its connection with the Philistine war of Saul and Jonathan, as it was the site of the Battle of Michmash which was later recounted in the Bible. In 1 Samuel 13 ‘And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin, but the Philistines encamped in Michmas. According to the Bible, King Saul's son Jonathan was able to beat the Philistines by stepping out on faith in God, which caused panic throughout and a Philistine rout. It tells how Jonathan and his armor-bearer showed themselves ‘to the Philistines’ garrison’ on the other side, and how they passed two sharp rocks: ‘there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez and the name of the other Seneh.’ They clambered up the cliff and overpowered the garrison ‘within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plough.’ The main body of the enemy awakened by the mêlée thought they were surrounded by Saul’s troops and ‘melted away and they went on beating down one another.