I. Name
On the basis of the alleged parallelism of mĕrîrî with Resheph and Behemoth in Deut. 32.24, Gordis has urged that “it seems highly reasonable to assume that Meriri is also a mythological term, probably representing a type of demon” (1943:178). Others make a similar suggestion (cf. HALAT 601 s.v. מרירי); it is without solid foundation, though.
II. Identity
Since a supposed demon Meriri is not attested in extrabiblical texts from the ancient Near East, the proof rests entirely on Deut. 32.24. It cannot be denied that this …