Lexical Summary Maqats: To awake, to arise Original Word: מָקַץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Makaz From qatsats; end; Makats, a place in Palestine -- Makaz. see HEBREW qatsats NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom qatsats Definition a place in Isr. NASB Translation Makaz (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מָקַץ proper name, of a location in Israel, site unknown, 1 Kings 4:9; ᵐ5 Μαχεμας, A Μαχμας (i.e. מִכְמָס), ᵐ5L Μαγχας. מִקְצוֺעַ, מִקְצֹעַ, [מַקְצוּעָה, מְקֻצְעֹת] see קצע. מִקְצָת see קְצָת. Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting Makaz appears once in Scripture: “Ben-deker in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth-hanan” (1 Kings 4:9). It heads the first cluster of towns administered by Ben-deker, one of the twelve officers appointed by King Solomon to supply provisions for the royal court (1 Kings 4:7). Geographical Considerations The surrounding towns—Shaalbim (Joshua 19:42), Beth Shemesh (Joshua 15:10), and Elon Beth-hanan—lie on the borderlands of Dan and Judah, west of the Judean hill country. Makaz therefore belongs to the Shephelah region, the low foothills that bridge Israel’s coastal plain and interior highlands. Although its exact archaeological locus remains unconfirmed, its grouping with well-known sites suggests a position on the major east-west route that later linked Gezer to Beth Shemesh and the Aijalon Valley. Such placement would have given Solomon strategic oversight of trade and military movement between the Mediterranean coast and Jerusalem. Historical Significance 1. Royal Administration: Solomon’s twelve-district system replaced the tribal model with a centralized, merit-based bureaucracy. Makaz, as the lead town in Ben-deker’s circuit, exemplifies how the monarchy unified diverse tribal territories into a cohesive national economy. Theological Themes • Covenant Order: By integrating Makaz into a nation-wide supply network, Solomon fulfilled the Deuteronomic ideal of a king who governs “with justice and righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:5). The administrative mention underlines God’s intent for ordered stewardship of the land promised to Abraham. Ministry Reflections 1. Faithfulness in Obscurity: Makaz receives only one biblical mention, yet its contribution was indispensable to the sustenance of Israel’s king. Modern believers serving in unseen roles can take encouragement that God records and rewards hidden labor (Hebrews 6:10). Christological Foreshadowing Solomon’s administrative network reflects a limited, temporal wisdom. In contrast, Jesus “is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). The fleeting record of Makaz invites contemplation of the eternal city John envisions, where the glory of God supplies every need and no district is forgotten (Revelation 21:23-27). Key Reference 1 Kings 4:9—primary and sole biblical occurrence of Makaz. Forms and Transliterations בְּמָקַ֥ץ במקץ bə·mā·qaṣ bemaKatz bəmāqaṣLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 4:9 HEB: בֶּן־ דֶּ֛קֶר בְּמָקַ֥ץ וּבְשַֽׁעַלְבִ֖ים וּבֵ֣ית NAS: Ben-deker in Makaz and Shaalbim KJV: The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, INT: Ben-deker Makaz and Shaalbim and Beth-shemesh 1 Occurrence |
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