whole of the Esdraelon level, but that broadest part of it which is immediately opposite the place we are de- scribing (p. 335, 336). The supposition of Eaumer (Pa- Idstina, p. 402), that Legio represented the ancient Max- iinianopolis (which is given by Jerome as the later name for IJadadrimmon), based upon the presumption that the remains of a Roman road said to be still visible to the south of Lejjun are those of the thoroughfare be- tween Caisarea and Jezreel, is without good foundation (see Bibliotheca Sacra, 1844, p. 220). Yet Van de Velde (Memoir, p. 333) holds this view to be correct. He thinks he has found the true Hadadrimmon in a place called Rummanch, '"at the foot of the ^legiddo hills, in a notch or valley about an hour and a half south of Tell Metzellim," and would place the old fortified ^lei;iddo on this tell itself, suggesting further that its name, -the Tell of the Governor," may possibly retain a reminis- cence of Solomon's officer, Baana the son of Ahilud. Porter believes this tell was the site of the stronghold of Megiddo itself {Family Treasury, Dec. 1864). Megid'don (Zech. xii, 1). See Megiddo. Megillah. See Talmld.
Megilloth (rV?5-a, rolls, from ^^5). The Hebrew MSS. were on rolls of parchment, usually wTitten on one side, though sometimes also on both (Ezek. ii, 10). Af- terwards the term nb572 was used of a book consisting of several leaves fastened together (Jer. xxxvi, 23. 24) ; once it occurs in Scripture as designating the Penta- teuch (Psa. xl, 8 [7]). In later Jewish usage the term Megilloth was applied to the five books, viz. Song of Songs, Kuth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, wliich were read on certain festivals in the synagogue. See HAPurnAHAii. The title of Megillah was used KUT t^oyiiv of the book of Esther [see Estiiek, Book ok] ; and from this it is supposed it was transferred to the others. To the reading of this at the Eeast of Pu- rim special importance was attached by the Jews (Tal- mud, Tr. Mer/illuh, ed. Surenhus. ii, 387). — Kitto. See
KOLL.
Megma, the, a Mohammedan name for an assem- bly or council specially convened to judge of the merits or demerits of their highest functionary. The members of the Megma are the imams, or '• doctors of the law." See Imam.
Mehadu is the name of a HindA deity of inferior rank, supposed to have been created before the world, and which they hold will be used when the end of the world shall come as an instrument to destroy all created things. See Broughton, Bibliolh. llist. Sac. ii, 78.
Mehemet Ali, one of the most noted of Egypt's sovereigns, who filled the viceroyalty from 1804 to 1848, deserves a place here for his philanthropic acts towards the Christians, and his beneficence towards all men, without distinction of creed. He was born in 1769, and died at Cairo Aug. 3, 1849. Mehemet .:Vli was particu- larly noted for his successful wars against the Mame- lukes, and for his reduction of Syria, which he c(»nquered in 1830. " As a ruler," says a contemporary. '• !Melieniet Ali displayed talents of a very high order, and few ])rinces have founded more beneficent institutions or shown a more just and liberal spirit. He established schools and colleges, created an army and navy, and introduced the manufactures of Europe. He protected his Christian subjects, and aided by his liberality the researches of ChampoUion. Lepsius, and other eminent savants." See V. jNIengin, Jlistvire de fE'/ypte sons le O'ouveriiemeiit de Mohammed Ali (1839); A. de Vaulabelle, Ilistoire de UEyypte; Creasiy, /list, of the Ottoman Turks, ii,392.
Mehet'abeel (Xeh. vi, 10). See Meiietabee.
Mehet'abel (Heb. Milieytabcl[, ^xn^n r- whose bemfdctiir is Cu,!; or. according to Gesenius, a Chald. form for 5X -"'i:"''?, blessed by God; Vulg. MetabeeT), the name of a man and of a woman.
1. (ScpU Mt-t/if/yX, Mt-a/3{i'y\.) The daughter of
MEHIDA
47
MEICHELRECK
Hatred, and wife of Hadad, the last named of the orig- inal kings of Edom, whose native or regal city was Pai or Pau (Gen. xxxvi, 39; 1 Chron. i, 50). B.C. prob. cir. 1619.
2. (Sept. M£>jrrt/3fi;\ v. r. MerafitijX, Auth. Vers. " Mehetabeel.") The father of Delaiah, and grandfather of the Semaiah who connived with Sanballat in his at- tempts to decoy Nehemiah into signs of fear (Neh. vi, 10). B.C. considerably ante 446.
Mehi'da (Heb. MecJiida', XT^rip, pmh. joining ; Sept. in Ezra MtiSd v. r. MaovSci, in Neh. M££t5d v. r. Mt^a; Vulg. Mahida), a name given in Ezra ii, 52; Neh. vii, 54, apparently as that of a person whose de- scendants (or possibly a place whose inhabitants) were among the Nethinim of the " children" (i. e. probably residents) of Bazlith, after the exUe. B.C. ante 53G.
Me'hir (Heb. J/ec^«>', "|inp, /jrice, as often ; Sept. Maxf;,o V. r. Mnx'p), the son of Chelub and father (? founder) of Eshton, of the tribe of Judah (1 Chron. iv, 11), but of what particular family does not clearly appear. B.C. perhaps cir. 1618.
Meholah. See Abel-meholaii.
Meho'lathite (lleh. Mecholathi' , "^nVnp, Gentile adj. from Jlekoluk; Sept. MaovXa^tTTjC, MoovXa^i), a native doubtless of Abel-jieholaii (1 Sam.xviii,19; 2 Sam. xxi, 8),
Mehu'jael (Heb. Mechuyael', ^X^^llra, smitten by God; v. r. in the same verse Mechiyael', ix'^^PlT; ; Sept. has MaXeXt/'/X v. r. MaV/'/X ; Yulg. Maniuel), the son of Irad and father of Methusael, third antediluvian patriarch in descent from Cain (Gen. iv, 18). B.C. cir. 3840.