Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MAHALATH

(Heb. maḥălaṯ) (also BASEMOTH)

1. The daughter of Ishmael and one of Esau’s wives (Gen. 28:9). In Gen. 36:3 she is called Basemoth.

2. The wife of King Rehoboam of Judah; daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and Abihail (2 Chr. 11:18)

3. A cryptic term found in the superscriptions to Ps. 53, 88 (the latter with lĕʿannôṯ, “to afflict”), likely a technical term denoting a melody (or musical instrument). Other suggestions include a cultic dance or flute playing associated with lamentation rites. Michael Goulder suggests that in Ps. 88 it originally refers to Mahalath-dan, a place where Danite festal rites took place; this meaning was lost, and with the addition of lĕʿannôṯ it was understood as referring to a completed rite of affliction. Most modern versions transliterate, e.g., “according to Mahalath.”

Bibliography. M. D. Goulder, The Psalms of the Sons of Korah. JSOTSup 20 (Sheffield, 1982).

Tyler F. Williams

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MAHALATH

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)