Meah
“Hundred”
Summary
Meah (also called Hammeah) was a tower in Jerusalem's walls, its name meaning 'the hundred,' though the significance of this number is unknown.
☩Location
The tower of Meah (or Hammeah in the Revised Version) was situated on the eastern wall of Jerusalem. It was positioned between the Sheep Gate and the tower of Hananeel, likely at or near the northeastern angle of the Temple enclosure. The tower is mentioned in connection with the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls under Nehemiah, where the high priest Eliashib and his fellow priests built as far as this tower and consecrated it.
☩Name
The Hebrew name Meah means 'a hundred,' though what this number signifies remains uncertain. Some have speculated it refers to the tower's height of one hundred cubits, while others suggest it may indicate the number of steps leading up to it or the size of its garrison. The tower appears to have been a significant landmark in the city's defenses, mentioned alongside other prominent structures in the processional route described in Nehemiah's dedication of the wall.
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Meah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VI (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Meah," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).