Lexical Summary Mecholathi: Mecholathite Original Word: מְחֹלָתִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Mecholathite Patrial from 'Abel Mchowlah; a Mecholathite or inhabitant of Abel-Mecholah -- Mecholathite. see HEBREW 'Abel Mchowlah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition inhab. of Abel-meholah NASB Translation Meholathite (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְחֹלָתִי adjective, of a people only with article ׳הַמְּ the Meholathite, of `Adriel 1 Samuel 18:19, A τῷ Μοουλαθειτῃ; ᵐ5L τοῦ Μαολλαιου; of Barzillai 2 Samuel 21:8; ᵐ5 τῷ Μωουλαθει, ᵐ5L τοῦ Μααθει. Topical Lexicon Geographic and Cultural Setting “Meholathite” identifies a person from Abel-meholah, a fertile settlement in the Jordan Valley south of Beth-shean. The name of the town (“meadow of dancing”) hints at pastoral abundance and perhaps festive worship. By the days of the united monarchy the location lay within the tribal allotment of Manasseh, close to the borders of Issachar and Gad, allowing easy passage across the Jordan into Gilead. Abel-meholah later became the home of the prophet Elisha (1 Kings 19:16), suggesting that the area continued to produce notable leaders for Israel. Persons Called “the Meholathite” Scripture applies the description only to Adriel son of Barzillai (1 Samuel 18:19; 2 Samuel 21:8). Through marriage he became Saul’s son-in-law and therefore connected to both the royal court at Gibeah and the future dynasty of David. Narrative Contexts Saul’s Broken Promise (1 Samuel 18:17-19) King Saul publicly offered his eldest daughter Merab to David for bravery against the Philistines. “But when the time came for Saul to give his daughter Merab to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite instead” (1 Samuel 18:19). The episode exposes Saul’s jealousy and underscores David’s humiliation, yet it also advances the narrative of God leading David by a path of suffering toward kingship. The Atonement for Saul’s Bloodguilt (2 Samuel 21:1-9) Years later a famine revealed Saul’s unatoned violence against the Gibeonites. In response David surrendered seven members of Saul’s household, including “the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab, whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite” (2 Samuel 21:8). The Meholathite household, intertwined with Saul’s line, thereby shared in the retributive justice that satisfied covenant obligations and ended the national calamity. The event illustrates the seriousness of covenant violation (Joshua 9) and the requirement that innocent blood be expiated (Deuteronomy 21:1-9). Historical Significance 1. Royal Alliances: Adriel’s marriage into Saul’s family demonstrates how political ties extended across tribal boundaries, uniting Benjaminite royalty with a Manassite notable. Theological Reflections • Covenant Faithfulness: The contrast between Saul’s broken oath to David and David’s painstaking fulfillment of Joshua’s covenant with the Gibeonites highlights the divine priority of truth-keeping. Lessons for Ministry Today 1. Keep Commitments—leaders who manipulate vows invite lasting harm (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5; Matthew 5:37). Related Topics for Study Abel-meholah; Adriel; Merab; Saul son of Kish; Covenant with the Gibeonites; Elisha; Bloodguilt and Expiation; Corporate Solidarity in Scripture. Forms and Transliterations הַמְּחֹלָתִ֖י הַמְּחֹלָתִֽי׃ המחלתי המחלתי׃ ham·mə·ḥō·lā·ṯî hammecholaTi hamməḥōlāṯîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 18:19 HEB: נִתְּנָ֛ה לְעַדְרִיאֵ֥ל הַמְּחֹלָתִ֖י לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ NAS: to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife. KJV: unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife. INT: was given to Adriel the Meholathite A wife 2 Samuel 21:8 2 Occurrences |
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