Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MAON

(Heb. māʿôn)

(PLACE)

1. A town in the hill country of Judah, identified with µorvat Maon/Khirbet Maʿîn (1627.0909), 14 km. (8.7 mi.) N of Arad. Perhaps named after one of Caleb’s descendants (1 Chr. 2:45), the town was part of Judah’s tribal inheritance (Josh. 15:55); the area east of it, near the Dead Sea, was known as the wilderness of Maon. David and his followers evaded Saul by hiding there (1 Sam. 23:24-25), and it is the setting for the story of Nabal and David (25:2). The MT reference to the wilderness of Paran (1 Sam. 25:1) should be emended to Maon, as in the LXX. The inhabitants of Maon were counted among the enemies of Israel during the period of the judges (Judg. 10:12) and the rule of Uzziah (2 Chr. 26:7). The Meunim (2 Chr. 26:7; Ezra 2:50 = Neh. 7:52), counted among the returnees from Babylonian exile, may represent an alternative spelling of Maon.

Arad ostracon 25 (7th-6th century b.c.e.) credits Maon with the delivery of 10 hekats of barley (one hekat being just under 5 l. [4.5 qt.]).

The site was surveyed in 1968 (Moshe Kochavi), 1979 (Yizhar Hirschfeld), and 1987-1988 (Zvi Ilan and David Amit). Kochavi’s survey determined that the biblical town covered 1 ha. (2.5 a.), spanning the summit, eastern, and northern slopes of the tell. The western slope was covered by later buildings. Ceramic evidence for Early Bronze, Iron, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and medieval occupation was found.

The site is best known for its 4th-7th century c.e. synagogue. While its mosaic floor was not well preserved, it features fragments of a menorah composed of marble “apples.” Other finds include an underground mikveh, hall, and tunnel and coins from the 4th and 5th centuries c.e.

2. A town 18 km. (11 mi.) S of Gaza, modern Khirbet el-Maʾin (093.082), located near the edge of the Negeb desert by the settlement of Kibbutz Nirim, 20 km. (12.5 mi.) SW of Gaza. The site of an ancient synagogue, Maon-Nirim is renowned for its intricate 6th-century c.e. mosaic. The main motif is composed of a grapevine trellis of 55 medallions, each containing an animal, bowl, or basket. The mosaic includes such Jewish symbols as a menorah, shophar, and lulav. Other finds include a dedicatory inscription in Aramaic (part of the mosaic), coins from the 4th-6th centuries c.e., and a bone plaque decorated with a carved amphora.

Bibliography. Y. Aharoni, The Land of the Bible, 2nd ed. (Philadelphia, 1979); Arad Inscriptions (Jerusalem, 1981); M. Avi-Yonah, The Holy Land, rev. ed. (Grand Rapids, 1977); D. Barag, “Maʿon (Nirim),” NEAEHL 3:944-46; Department of Antiquities, “Nirim (Hurvath Maʿon),” IEJ 7 (1957): 265; Z. Ilan and D. Amit, “Horvat Maʿon, Synagogue,” Excavations and Surveys in Israel 7/8 (1988-89): 123-225; “Maon (in Judea),” NEAEHL 3:942-44.

Jennifer L. Groves

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MAON

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)