Meronothite
Meronothite is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Tell en Nasbeh. It appears across 2 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
The term "Meronothite" appears in Scripture as a gentilicdesignation referring to inhabitants of Meronoth, a town whose precise location within the territory of Judah or Benjamin has been debated by scholars. In 1 Chronicles 27:30, Jahdiel the Meronothite is listed among David's officers as the overseer of the royal donkeys, indicating that residents of this town held positions of trust in the Davidic administration. The town appears again in Nehemiah 3:7, where Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite are named among those who repaired the wall of Jerusalem under Nehemiah's leadership, working on the section near the throne of the governor of the province Beyond the River. This post-exilic reference demonstrates that the community of Meronoth persisted through the Babylonian exile and returned to participate in the restoration of Jerusalem. The town's residents thus served the covenant community in both the monarchy and the restoration periods, contributing to Israel's governance and the physical rebuilding of the holy city.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
The identification of Meronoth remains uncertain among scholars. One proposal locates it at Tell en-Nasbeh, approximately 12 kilometers north of Jerusalem, though this site is more commonly identified with biblical Mizpah of Benjamin. Other scholars have suggested Beitoniya, northwest of Gibeon, based on the Nehemiah 3:7 association with Gibeonites. Tell en-Nasbeh has been extensively excavated, revealing significant Iron Age fortifications including a massive city wall and gate complex. The site yielded important finds including seal impressions and pottery spanning multiple periods. Without a definitive identification, the archaeology of Meronoth itself remains speculative, though its general location in the Benjamin-Judah border region is well established.
Verse Appearances (2)
1Chr
Neh
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →