Metaphysical meaning of Menahem (mbd)
Menahem, men'-a-hem (Heb.)--comforter; consoler; compassionate; repentant; lamenting; grieving; sighing; avenging.
A king of Israel. "And Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh . . . and reigned in his stead" (II Kings 15:14). He paid a thousand talents of silver to Pul, the king of Assyria, to save Israel from being invaded by Assyria.
Meta. Ambitious desire (the root idea of Menahem is that of breathing forcibly, panting, sighing, either from desire or from contentment because of having received the fulfillment of the desire) seeking rulership in consciousness, seeking to dominate and guide the will; also the mistaken thought that one can gain satisfaction by the fulfillment of one's human desires. When the human will is actuated by human desire, when it is not established in love, Truth, and divine understanding, but thinks that deliverance and dominion are gained by means of force and violence (avenging, a son of Gadi, Gadi meaning of Gad and referring to the power faculty in man), it falls far short of being a real ruler and comforter. The history of Menahem shows this.
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Preceding Entry: Memucan
Following Entry: mene
