Masrekah
מַשְׂרֵקָה/maz-REE-kah/
“Vineyard”
Summary
Masrekah was an ancient city in Edom, the royal seat of Samlah, one of the early Edomite kings.
☩Identity and Location
Masrekah is mentioned as the native city of Samlah, one of the kings who reigned in Edom 'before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.' The name means 'vineyard' in Hebrew, suggesting a region where choice vines flourished. This interpretation aligns with Burckhardt's discovery of extensive vineyards in the Idumaean mountains north of Petra along the hadj route, where the Refaya tribe cultivated grapes for supplying Gaza and Mecca pilgrims. Some scholars have attempted to identify Masrekah with a site called En-Masrak or Ain Mafrak located south of Petra, though the identification remains uncertain.
Key verses:Genesis 36:361 Chronicles 1:47
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Masrekah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Masrekah," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).