Masrekah
Masrekah is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Negev in modern-day Israel. Known today as Jebel el Musraq. It appears across 2 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Masrekah appears in Scripture as the royal city of Samlah, one of the ancient kings of Edom who reigned before any king ruled over Israel. In both Genesis 36:36 and its parallel account in 1 Chronicles 1:47, Masrekah is identified as the home city of Samlah, who succeeded Hadad son of Bedad as king. The list of Edomite kings in Genesis 36 is a remarkable document preserving the political history of Edom, Israel's neighbor and kinsman-nation descended from Esau. These kings ruled in succession rather than by dynastic inheritance, suggesting an elective or charismatic form of kingship. Masrekah's mention within this king-list establishes it as a place of political significance within the Edomite kingdom. Edom occupied the mountainous territory southeast of the Dead Sea, and its cities controlled important trade routes connecting Arabia to the Mediterranean world. Though Masrekah is mentioned only in these genealogical records, its association with Edomite royalty marks it as a city of consequence in the ancient Near East.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Masrekah's identification remains debated among scholars. One proposed location is Jebel el-Musraq in the mountainous region of ancient Edom, east of the Arabah valley in modern-day southern Jordan. The name Masrekah may relate to the Hebrew word for "vineyard," suggesting a region suitable for viticulture. The broader territory of ancient Edom has been surveyed extensively, revealing numerous Iron Age settlements in the highlands between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. Sites like Buseirah (biblical Bozrah) and Tawilan have been excavated, providing insight into Edomite civilization, but Masrekah itself has not been conclusively identified or excavated. The rugged terrain of this region preserves many unexcavated ancient sites.
Verse Appearances (2)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →