Mahalath:
ma'-ha-lath (machalath):
(1) In Ge 28:9 the name of a wife of Esau, daughter of Ishmael, and sister of Nebaioth, called in 36:3, BASEMATH (which see). The Samaritan Pentateuch, however, throughout Genesis 36 retains "Mahalath." On the other hand, in 26:34 Basemath is said to be "the daughter of Elon the Hittite," probably a confusion with Adah, as given in 36:2, or corruption may exist in the lists otherwise.
(2) One of the 18 wives of Rehoboam, a grand-daughter of David (2Ch 11:18).
(3) The word is found in the titles of Ps 53 (the Revised Version (British and American) "set to Mahalath") and Ps 88 (the Revised Version (British and American) "set to Mahalath Leannoth," margin "for singing"). Probably some song or tune is meant, though the word is taken by many to denote a musical instrument. Hengstenberg and others interpret it as indicating the subject of the Psalms.
Written by James Orr
See PSALMS
Mahalath:
(stringed instrument)
(1.) The daughter of Ishmael, and one of the wives of Esau (Genesis 28:9).
(2.) One of the eighteen wives of King Rehoboam, apparently his first. 2 Chronicles 11:18 only. She was her husband's cousin, being the daughter of King David's son Jerimoth.
(3.) The title of Psalm 53, and Mahalath‐leannoth, the title of Psalm 88. The meaning of these words is uncertain. The conjecture is that Mahalath is a guitar, and that leannoth has reference to the character of the psalm, and might be rendered "to humble or afflict," in which sense the root occurs in verse 7.
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