Lexical Summary
Machalath: Mahalath
Original Word: מַחֲלַת
Part of Speech: Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration: Machalath
Pronunciation: mah-khah-lath'
Phonetic Spelling: (makh-al-ath')
KJV: Mahalath
NASB: Mahalath
Word Origin: [the same as H4257 (מַחֲלַת - Machalath)]
1. sickness
2. Machalath, the name of an Ishmaelitess and of an Israelitess
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Mahalath
The same as machalath; sickness; Machalath, the name of an Ishmaelitess and of an Israelitess -- Mahalath.
see HEBREW machalath
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originof uncertain derivation
Definitiondaughter of Ishmael, also a granddaughter of David
NASB TranslationMahalath (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
II.
Genesis 28:9, .
2Chronicles 11:18, ; L .
see below I. .
Topical Lexicon
Biblical Occurrences Genesis 28:9 presents Mahalath as a daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth, taken by Esau “in addition to the wives he already had.”
2 Chronicles 11:18 records a later Mahalath, daughter of Jerimoth son of David and of Abihail granddaughter of Jesse, becoming the first-named wife of King Rehoboam.
Historical Context
1. Esau’s Mahalath establishes a political alliance between Esau’s Edomite line and the Ishmaelite clan. Both lines spring from Abraham yet stand outside the covenant line that proceeds through Isaac and Jacob. Esau’s marriage underscores his pragmatic approach to family alliances after perceiving his Canaanite wives displeased Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 26:34-35; 28:8).
2. Rehoboam’s Mahalath forges unity within Judah’s royal and tribal structure. By marrying a granddaughter of Jesse and a daughter of David’s lesser-known son, Rehoboam tightens internal bonds at the outset of his reign. This is significant because his political footing soon weakens through rebellion in the north (2 Chronicles 10). The marriage signals an attempt to consolidate support inside Judah before that division occurs.
Genealogical Significance
• Esau + Mahalath (Ishmaelite) → Edomite-Ishmaelite linkage, foreshadowing later interactions between Edom and Israel.
• Rehoboam + Mahalath (Davidic) → Continuation of the Davidic dynasty; their sons, including Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham (2 Chronicles 11:19), expand the royal household yet remain secondary to the crown prince Abijah, born of Maacah. The name Mahalath thus appears at two strategic junctures: the branching of lines outside the covenant promise and the preservation of the royal line within it.
Theological Themes
Covenant Priority: The marriages spotlight the contrast between human strategies and divine election. Esau’s union with Mahalath cannot regain the birthright he forfeited (Hebrews 12:16-17). Conversely, Rehoboam’s alliance through Mahalath occurs within the covenant community yet does not shield him from consequences of disobedience (2 Chronicles 12:1-5).
Family Influence: Both narratives reveal how parental expectations and political calculations shape marital choices, yet God’s redemptive purposes advance irrespective of human motives.
Lessons for Ministry
• Marital and familial decisions carry generational impact; leaders should weigh alliances in light of God’s promises rather than cultural expediency.
• Spiritual heritage, not merely bloodline, determines lasting blessing. Esau’s alliance adds prestige but no covenant benefit; Rehoboam’s lineage retains promise yet still requires faithfulness.
• Scripture’s brief notices of women such as Mahalath invite careful attention: seemingly minor figures often stand at pivotal intersections of redemptive history.
Related Names
Though the same spelling appears in Psalm titles referring to musical settings (e.g., Psalm 53, Psalm 88), those headings use a different Strong’s number and are distinct from the women named Mahalath in Genesis and Chronicles.
Forms and Transliterations
מָ֣חֲלַ֔ת מָחֲלַ֣ת ׀ מחלת machaLat
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
