Dembre. Ruins there include rock-hewn tombs and a large theater with well-preserved decorations. The ancient name “Myra” apparently embraced both the city and its excellent harbor Andriaca at the mouth of the navigable river Andracus. Ruined quays still line this river. That Myra was a prominent port city may be inferred from its being the center for the worship of the sailors’ god. Mariners prayed to the deity before commencing long voyages and, upon arriving safely at their destination, paid their vows.

As a prisoner bound for Rome, the apostle Paul arrived at Myra from Caesarea by way of Sidon. There he and his traveling companions had to transfer to a grain ship from Alexandria that was sailing for Italy. (Acts 27:1-6, 38) Myra was due N of Alexandria and therefore may have been on the regular route of ships from that Egyptian city. Or, it may be that contrary winds (Acts 27:4, 7) forced the Alexandrian vessel to change its course and drop anchor at Myra.

At Acts 21:1 some ancient authorities add “and Myra” after “Patara.” (See JB, NE, RS footnotes.) Although this addition would not be out of harmony with the rest of the account, there is insufficient evidence for determining whether the name “Myra” actually appeared in the original manuscript.

MYRRH

An aromatic gum resin. (Song of Sol. 1:13; 4:6, 14; 5:1, 13) Its precise source in ancient times is uncertain. But generally myrrh is in most instances believed to have been the resin obtained from the low-growing thorny shrub or tree known as Commiphora myrrha or the related variety Commiphora kataf. Both of these shrubs thrive in rocky areas, particularly on limestone hills. Their wood and bark have a strong odor. Although the resin exudes by itself from the stem or the thick and stiff branches of either variety, the flow can be increased by means of incisions. Initially the clear, white or yellowish-brown resin is soft and sticky but, upon dripping to the ground, it hardens and turns dark red or black.

Myrrh was one of the ingredients for the holy anointing oil. (Ex. 30:23-25) Esteemed for its fragrance, it was used to scent garments, beds and other items. (Compare Psalm 45:8; Proverbs 7:17; Song of Solomon 3:6, 7.) The Shulammite maiden of The Song of Solomon appears to have applied liquid myrrh to her body before retiring for the night. (Song of Sol. 5:2, 5) Massages with oil of myrrh were included in the special beauty treatment given to Esther. (Esther 2:12) Myrrh was also one of the substances employed in preparing bodies for burial. (John 19:39, 40) It was apparently viewed as having sufficient value to be presented as a gift to one born king of the Jews.—Matt. 2:1, 2, 11.

MYRTLE

[Heb., hadhasʹ].

The myrtle (Myrtus communis) grows as either a shrub or a tree and is common in Palestine and Lebanon, growing well in stony soil. It is capable of reaching a height of thirty feet (9.1 meters) but is usually found as a shrub of from two to four feet (.6 to 1.2 meters) in height. An evergreen, it is quite bushy in branch structure, has thick, shiny, dark-green leaves, and blossoms with clusters of fragrant white flowers that mature into blue-black berries. Almost the entire plant has a fragrant spicy oil used in perfumes. The berries, though aromatic, are edible. The myrtle is found today particularly in the Mount Carmel region and in Galilee but also grows in the Jerusalem area, as it evidently did at the time of Zechariah’s vision recorded at Zechariah 1:8-11, 16.

Fragrant branches of myrtle were used along with the branches of other trees to cover the temporary outdoor huts or booths used by the Hebrews during the ‘festival of booths.’ (Neh. 8:14, 15) In the restoration prophecies the myrtle tree with its fragrance and beauty is foretold to grow in place of the stinging nettle and to spring up even in the wilderness.—Isa. 41:19; 55:13.

The name of Esther, wife of Persian King Ahasuerus, was “Hadassah” in Hebrew and hence derived from the name of the myrtle tree.—Esther 2:7.

MYSIA

(Mysʹi·a).

A region in the northwestern part of Asia Minor. Its boundaries appear to have fluctuated, but basically Mysia was bounded from W to N by the Aegean Sea, the Hellespont (Dardanelles) and Propontis (Sea of Marmara). Bithynia lay to the E and Lydia to the S. (See ASIA.) While on his second missionary journey, Paul, accompanied by Silas and Timothy, endeavored to go to Bithynia, but “the spirit of Jesus did not permit them. So they passed Mysia by and came down to Troas.” (Acts 15:40; 16:1-3, 7, 8) Since the seaport of Troas was in Mysia, evidently this means that Paul and his companions, although going through Mysia, omitted it as a field of missionary activity. Other cities of Mysia were Adramyttium (Acts 27:2), Assos (Acts 20:13, 14) and Pergamum.—Rev. 1:11; see TROAS.

MYSTERY

See SACRED SECRET.

NAAM

(Naʹam) [pleasantness].

Son of Caleb, Jephunneh’s son, of the tribe of Judah.—1 Chron. 4:1, 15.

NAAMAH

(Naʹa·mah) [pleasant, delightful, sweet].

1. Descendant of Cain; sister of Tubal-cain and the daughter of Lamech by Zillah.—Gen. 4:17-19, 22.

2. Ammonite wife of Solomon and mother of Rehoboam.—1 Ki. 14:21; 2 Chron. 12:13.

3. A Judean city in the Shephelah. (Josh. 15:20, 33, 41) Its exact location is uncertain. However, Khirbet Farad, about five miles (8 kilometers) N-NE of the suggested site of Libnah, has been presented as a possible identification. Nearby ʽAraq Naʽaman is believed to preserve the ancient name.

NAAMAN

(Naʹa·man) [pleasantness].

1. A grandson of Benjamin through his firstborn Bela. (1 Chron. 8:1-4, 7) Having founded a family, the Naamites in the tribe of Benjamin (Num. 26:40), Naaman himself is elsewhere listed as one of the “sons” of Benjamin.—Gen. 46:21.

2. A Syrian army chief of the tenth century B.C.E., during the reigns of Jehoram of Israel and Ben-hadad of Syria. Naaman, ‘a great, valiant, mighty man held in esteem,’ was the one by whom “Jehovah had given salvation to Syria.” (2 Ki. 5:1) The Bible gives no details as to how or why Naaman was used to bring this salvation to Syria. One possibility is that Naaman headed the Syrian forces that successfully resisted the efforts of Assyrian King Shalmaneser III to overrun Syria. Since, by remaining free, Syria formed a buffer state between Israel and Assyria, this may have served the purpose of slowing down Assyria’s aggressive push in the W until Jehovah’s due time to allow the northern kingdom to go into captivity.

CURED OF LEPROSY

Naaman was a leper, and while the Syrians did not demand his isolation as Jehovah’s law required of lepers in Israel, yet to learn how he might be cured of this loathsome disease was indeed welcome news. Such news came to him through his wife’s Israelite slave girl who told of a prophet in Samaria who could cure leprosy. Immediately Naaman set out for Samaria with a letter of introduction from Ben-hadad. However, Israelite King Jehoram, after receiving him with coolness and suspicion, sent him to Elisha. Elisha did not meet Naaman personally, but, instead, had his