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Bible Dictionaries
Meonenim, the Oak of
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
or Elon: not as KJV "the plain of." In central Palestine; Gaal saw Abimelech's men coming by the way that led to it (Judges 9:37). Meonenim means "enchanters." "observers of times" (Deuteronomy 18:10; Deuteronomy 18:14). These practiced some of their magic arts at this oak. The oak of Meonenim was at a distance from Shechem. That where under Jacob hid the strange gods and talisman earrings of his household was close by Shechem (Genesis 35:4), the same where Abram built his first altar in Palestine (Genesis 12:6); here also Joshua, alluding to the patriarch Jacob's address and the original idolatry of Israel's forefathers, urges the people similarly to "put away the strange gods," etc. (Genesis 24:23.) In Judges 9:6, "the oak (not 'plain') of memorial" (mutsab ) is the large memorial stone set up under the oak at Shechem. The inhabitants elected Abimelech king in the very place where Joshua renewed Israel's covenant with Jehovah, the true covenant God. Here was the temple of Baal Berith (Lord of the covenant, Judges 9:46).
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Fausset, Andrew R. Entry for 'Meonenim, the Oak of'. Fausset's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/fbd/m/meonenim-the-oak-of.html. 1949.
