The above table gives the principal descents, as far as it is possible to ascertain them. But the true posi- tion of Jaaziah, Mahli, and Jeduthun is doubtfid. Here too, as elsewhere, it is difhcult to decide when a given name indicates an individual, and when the family called after him, or the head of that family. It is sometimes no less dilHcult to decide whether any name which oc- curs repeatedly designates the same person, or others of the family who bore the same name, as e. g. in the case of Mahli, Hilkiah, Shimri, Kishi or Kish, and others. As regards the confusion between Ethan and Jeduthun, it may perhaps be that Jeduthun was the patronymic title of the house of which Ethan was the head in the time of David. Jeduthun might have been the brother of one of Ethan's direct ancestors before Hashabiah, in which case Hashabiah, in 1 Chron. xxv, 3, 19, might be the same as Hashabiah in vi, 45. Hosah and Obed- edom seem to have been other descendants or clansmen of Jeduthun, who lived in the time of David; and, if we may argue fiom the name of Hosah's sons, Simri and Hilkiah, that they were descendants of Shamer and Hil- kiah, in the line of Ethan, the inference would be that Jeduthun was a son either of Hilkiah or Amaziah, since he Hved after Hilkiah, but before Hashabiah. The great advantage of this supposition is, that while it leaves to Ethan the patronymic designation Jeduthun, it draws a
wide distinction between the term "sons of Jeduthun" and " sons of Ethan," and explains how in David's time there could be sons of those who are called sons of Jedu- thun above thirty years of age (since they filled offices, 1 Chron. xxvi, 10), at the same time that Jeduthun was said to be the chief of the singers. In like manner it is possible that Jaaziah may have been a brother of INIal- luch or of Abdi, and that if Abdi or Ibri had other de- scendants besides the lines of Kish and Eleazar, they may have been reckoned under the headship of Jaaziah. The families of Merari which were so reckoned were, according to 1 Chron. xxiv, 27, Shoham, Zaccur (appar- ently the same as Zechariah in 1 Chron. xv, 18, where we probably ought to read " Zaccur, son of Jaaziah," and xxvi, 11), and Ibri, where the Sept. has 'QjiSi, 'AjSai, and 'AjSci. See each name in its place.
Meratha'im (Heb. Meratha'yim, C^Jn^r, double rebellion ; Sept. TTDfjOwcVulg. dominanies), a name given to Babylon (Jer. 1, 21), symbolical of its intensely per- verse character (see Henderson, Comment, ad loc). The expression " the land of two dominations" seems espe- cially to allude " to the double captivity which Chaldsea had iniiicted on the nation of Israel (Jer. 1, 21). This is the opinion of Gesenius, EUrst, Michaelis {Bibel fur Ungelehrteii), etc., and in this sense the wortl is taken by the versions generally, excepting that of Junius and Tremellius, which the A. V.— as in other instances — has followed here" (Smith).
Merati, Gaetaxo Maria, an Italian theologian, was born at Venice Dec. 23, 16(58. He was educated in the regular order of the Theatians, afterwards taught philosophy and theology in the college belonging to his order, and in 1705 accompanied the Venetian ambassa- dor to London. He went to Rome in 1716 as procurator- general of his order. Pope Benedict XIV honored him with his friendship. He died at Rome Sept. 8, 1744. Some of Merati's works are, La vita soavemente rer/olata delle donne (Venice, 1708, 12mo) : — La Verita della Re- lifjione Cristiana e Cuttolica diniostrata lie! suoi Jonda- menti (1721, 2 vols. 4to) : — Novcb Observationes et Addi- tiones ad Gavanti Coniinentaria in rubricas Missalis et Breviarii Roniani (Augsburg, 1740, 2 vols. 4to) :— =^six Lett res dans les EpistolcB claror. Venetoruni (1746, 2 vols.), addressed to Mogliobecchi. He was also the editor of T/iesauriis sacrorum Rituum de Gavanti (Rome, 1736-38, 4 vols. 4to), a work to which he made valuable contribu- tions.— Hoefer, Xouv. Biog. Generale, s. v.
Merault, Athanase Renee, a noted French edu- cator, was born at Paris in 1744, and was educated at the College of Jeuilly. Although possessing a very large fortune, he entered the Oratory in order to devote him- self to the instruction of the young. After his twenty- fifth year he was director of the house of education. Compelled to leave Paris by the Revolution, he retired to Orleans, where his parents resided. Imprisoned in 1793, and set free again after the 9th of Thermidor, he remained in the city, and became in 1805 grand vicar of the bishopric of Bernier, which placed him at the head of the great seminary. The Church of Orleans is in- debted to the abbot Merault for several religious and charitable institutions, to the foundation of which he devoted a large portion of his money. He died at Or- leans June 13, 1835. His works are, Les Apologistes Ln- volontaires ou la Religion elernelle prouvee et defenduejxfir les objections memes des incredules (Paris, 1806, anony- mous, and 1820, r2mo) : — Les Apologistes, on la Religion Chritienne prouvee par ses eimemis comme par ses amis (Orleans, 1821, 8vo and 12mo); a continuation of the preceding work: — Conspiration de rimpieti conire I'liu- manite (Paris, 1822, 8vo) : — Rapport sur Vhistoire des llebreux rapprochee des temps contemporains (Orleans, 1825, 12mo): — Enseignements de la Religion (Orleans, 1827, 5 vols. r2mo) -.— Recueil des Mandements sur Vin- st ruction des peuples (Paris, 1830, 12mn).— Hoefer, Xouv. Biog. Generale, s. v.