Original Word: מַעֲרֶה
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: ma`areh
Pronunciation: mah-ah-reh
Phonetic Spelling: (mah-ar-eh')
KJV: meadows
Word Origin: [from H6168 (עָרָה - laid bare)]

1. a nude place, i.e. a common

meadows

From arah; a nude place, i.e. A common -- meadows.

see HEBREW arah

Word Origin
the same as maar, q.v.

Meaning and Semantic Range

מַעֲרֶה (maʿăreh) denotes a secret place set aside for an ambush, a concealed position, or—by extension—a cover of foliage such as bushes or thickets. The root carries the idea of arranging or laying out, but in its single biblical use it describes a tactical hiding-place.

Biblical Occurrence

Judges 20:33 records Israel’s civil war with Benjamin: “So all the men of Israel rose up from their places and arrayed themselves at Baal Tamar, and the men of Israel in ambush charged out of their places, from the Maareh of Gibeah” (Berean Standard Bible). Here מַעֲרֶה identifies the covert where three thousand soldiers (Judges 20:36–37) waited until the signal to spring their surprise attack.

Historical Background

The episode follows the outrage at Gibeah (Judges 19) and the national assembly at Mizpah. Twice the Benjamites repelled Israel’s armies. On the third day the tribes employed a feigned retreat combined with an ambush. Maʿăreh marks the strip of terrain west or south-west of Gibeah, probably broken ground or scrub suitable for hiding troops. The term underscores deliberate military planning, contrasting the earlier, less organized assaults.

Strategic and Military Implications

1. Use of discipline and timing: The men in the maʿăreh remained hidden until signaled by the main force’s withdrawal (Judges 20:32).
2. Control of terrain: Israel leveraged natural cover for tactical advantage, reflecting common Ancient Near Eastern warfare where landscape features functioned as force multipliers (cf. Joshua 8:9; 2 Chronicles 13:13).
3. Righteous warfare under covenant: While the conflict was internecine, Scripture presents it as an act of purging evil (Judges 20:12–13). Thus the ambush, though deceptive toward the enemy, served a judicial purpose consistent with divine holiness.

Spiritual Significance

• Vigilance against hidden sin. Just as transgression in Benjamin required exposure, believers are exhorted to bring concealed wrongdoing to light (Proverbs 28:13; Ephesians 5:11).
• Wise strategy in spiritual battle. The prudent use of an ambush anticipates Christ’s teaching to be “shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). God’s people may legitimately employ sanctified wisdom without compromising integrity.
• Sovereign orchestration. The successful execution of an ambush after two defeats illustrates how the Lord can turn apparent setbacks into means of victory (Romans 8:28).

Application for Ministry

1. Church discipline must sometimes move from public appeal (Judges 20:12–17) to decisive action (20:33), always with the goal of restoration.
2. Leadership requires strategic planning rather than reactionary effort; prayerful preparation parallels Israel’s overnight positioning (20:29).
3. Teaching on spiritual warfare can draw upon the maʿăreh to illustrate the interplay between human responsibility and divine guidance.

Related Terms and Concepts

• צָפַן (tsaphan) “to hide” highlights God’s hiding place for the righteous (Psalm 27:5).
• אֹרֵב (ʾorēb, “ambush”) occurs in Judges 9:32–34, showing a negative misuse by Abimelech, contrasting Israel’s covenantal motive in Judges 20.
• “Strongholds” such as the caves of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1) demonstrate another biblical use of terrain for tactical and spiritual refuge.

Summary

Maʿăreh, though appearing only once, spotlights the biblical theme that victory often hinges on faithful obedience joined to thoughtful strategy. In the Gibeah narrative the hidden soldiers became instruments of divine justice, reminding readers that God sees what is done in secret and can turn even covert action to the service of righteousness and covenant fidelity.

מִמַּֽעֲרֵה־ ממערה־ mim·ma·‘ă·rêh- mimaareh mimma‘ărêh-Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts