Lexical Summary Madmannah: Madmannah Original Word: מַדְמַנָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Madmannah A variation for madmenah; Madmannah, a place in Palestine -- Madmannah. see HEBREW madmenah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as domen Definition a city in S. Judah, also a desc. of Caleb NASB Translation Madmannah (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַדְמַנָּה 1. proper name, of a location city of southern Judah Joshua 15:31; location dubious, Onomasticon Μηδεβηνα = Μηνοεις near Gaza LagOnom. 279, 2nd ed. 276; compare Minyay south of Gaza RobBR i. 602; on other proposed identification compare Di. 2. proper name, masculine descendant of Caleb 1 Chronicles 2:49. Topical Lexicon Location and Identification Madmannah is listed among the southern towns of Judah in the Negev, the arid region stretching toward the Sinai Peninsula. Its placement between Ziklag and Sansannah (Joshua 15:31) situates it west of Beersheba, likely along the ancient caravan routes linking the Judean heartland with Egypt. Two principal archaeological candidates have been proposed: Tell Jemmeh (Khirbet Jammâmeh) near the Besor River and Khirbet Umm Deimneh slightly farther east. Both mounds exhibit Iron Age pottery and fortification remains consistent with early Israelite occupation, lending credibility to either site as the biblical Madmannah. Biblical Occurrences Joshua 15:31 records Madmannah in Judah’s inheritance list: “Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah”. 1 Chronicles 2:49 places it in a genealogical context: “She also bore Shaaph the father of Madmannah, and Sheva the father of Macbenah and Gibea. Caleb’s daughter was Achsah”. Tribal Allotment and Settlement Within the comprehensive catalogue of Judah’s cities, Madmannah belongs to the third district of the Negev. The allotment reflects the fulfillment of divine promise that each tribe would possess its land (Joshua 13–19). Judah’s extensive southern holdings ensured control of critical grazing and trade corridors, demonstrating the LORD’s provision of both fertile highlands and harsher desert margins. Madmannah’s presence in the list shows that even fringe settlements had covenantal significance and protection. Genealogical Linkage 1 Chronicles 2:49 names Shaaph as “father of Madmannah,” indicating that the town originated from a Judahite clan descended from Caleb. In Chronicles, “father” frequently means founder or chief of a settlement rather than biological progenitor. Thus, the verse documents how Judahite families established towns that carried forward their names and heritage. The record underscores the historical reliability of Israel’s tribal memory and the importance of clan identity in anchoring land tenure and inheritance. Historical Setting During the Late Bronze to early Iron Age transition, the Negev served as a buffer between settled Canaan and nomadic groups to the south. Control of watering holes and trade routes was essential for regional stability. Madmannah likely functioned as a fortified village guarding access to the interior, contributing to Judah’s security in the days of the Judges and early monarchy. Its mention alongside Ziklag—a Philistine border town later granted to David (1 Samuel 27:6)—points to ongoing geopolitical tension that demanded fortified outposts. Archaeological Considerations Tell Jemmeh reveals a sequence of occupation layers from the twelfth through seventh centuries BCE, including a substantial fortification system. If this site is Madmannah, it would corroborate the biblical account of an established settlement in the early Israelite period. Khirbet Umm Deimneh, although smaller, aligns better with the toponym and exhibits comparable pottery. The absence of decisive inscriptions keeps the identification tentative, yet both locations demonstrate that Judah maintained a tangible presence in the Negev during the monarchy. Theological and Ministry Significance 1. Covenant Fulfillment: Madmannah embodies God’s comprehensive faithfulness. Every plot—large or small—promised to Judah was granted. This detail assures believers that divine promises encompass even seemingly minor matters. Christological Connections By rooting Madmannah in Caleb’s family tree, Scripture traces a line of faithfulness from the wilderness generation to the royal house of David. Caleb’s wholehearted devotion (Numbers 14:24) typifies the obedience perfected in Christ. Each Calebite settlement reflects a tangible outworking of that faith, pointing forward to the promised Seed who would inherit not merely a town but the nations (Psalm 2:8). Contemporary Applications • Reliability of Scripture: The geographical and genealogical precision surrounding Madmannah encourages confidence in biblical historicity, bolstering evangelism and apologetics. Forms and Transliterations וּמַדְמַנָּ֖ה ומדמנה מַדְמַנָּ֔ה מדמנה maḏ·man·nāh madmanNah maḏmannāh ū·maḏ·man·nāh umadmanNah ūmaḏmannāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 15:31 HEB: וְצִֽקְלַ֥ג וּמַדְמַנָּ֖ה וְסַנְסַנָּֽה׃ NAS: and Ziklag and Madmannah and Sansannah, KJV: And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah, INT: and Ziklag and Madmannah and Sansannah 1 Chronicles 2:49 2 Occurrences |
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