Maachah is a name that appears multiple times in the Old Testament, referring to both individuals and a region. The name Maachah is of Hebrew origin, meaning "oppression" or "to press."

1. Maachah, the Region: Maachah was a small Aramean kingdom located near the region of Geshur, east of the Sea of Galilee. It is mentioned in the context of the territorial conquests of the Israelites. In Joshua 13:11, the land of Maachah is listed among the territories that were not conquered by the Israelites: "Gilead, and the territory of the Geshurites and Maacathites, all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan as far as Salecah."

2. Maachah, the Daughter of Talmai: Maachah was the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur, and became one of King David's wives. She is the mother of Absalom and Tamar. Her marriage to David is noted in 2 Samuel 3:3: "his third was Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur." Maachah's influence is seen in the lives of her children, particularly in the tragic events surrounding Absalom's rebellion and Tamar's violation.

3. Maachah, the Wife of Rehoboam: Another Maachah is mentioned as the wife of King Rehoboam and the mother of Abijah, king of Judah. She is described as the daughter of Absalom, though some texts refer to her as the granddaughter, suggesting a possible generational gap or textual variation. In 1 Kings 15:2, it is stated: "He reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom." Maachah held significant influence as the queen mother, but her idolatrous practices led to her removal from this position by her grandson Asa, as recorded in 1 Kings 15:13: "He also removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a repulsive Asherah pole."

4. Maachah, the Concubine of Caleb: In 1 Chronicles 2:48, Maachah is mentioned as a concubine of Caleb, a descendant of Judah: "Caleb’s concubine Maacah gave birth to Sheber and Tirhanah." This reference highlights the genealogical records of the tribe of Judah.

5. Maachah, the Father of Hanan: In 1 Chronicles 11:43, Maachah is listed as the father of Hanan, one of David's mighty warriors: "Hanan son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite."

The various references to Maachah in the Bible illustrate the complexity of familial and political relationships in ancient Israel and its neighboring regions. The individuals named Maachah played roles in the unfolding narrative of Israel's history, often intertwined with themes of power, influence, and the consequences of idolatry.Maachah

pressed down; worn; fastened

Maachah

(oppression).

1. The daughter of Nahor by his concubine Beumah. (Genesis 22:24)
2. The father of Achish who was king of Gath at the beginning of Solomon's reign. (1 Kings 2:39)
3. The daughter, or more probably granddaughter, of Absalom named after his mother; the third and favorite wife of Rehoboam, and mother of Abijah. (1 Kings 15:22; 2 Chronicles 11:20-22) The mother of Abijah is elsewhere called "Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah." (2 Chronicles 13:2) During the reign of her grandson Asa she occupied at the court of Judah the high position of "king's mother," comp. (1 Kings 15:13) but when he came of age she was removed because of her idolatrous habits. (2 Chronicles 15:16)
4. The concubine of Caleb the son of Hezron. (1 Chronicles 2:48)
5. The daughter of Talmai king of Geshur, and mother of Absalom (1 Chronicles 3:2) also called Maacah in Authorized Version of (2 Samuel 3:3)
6. The wife of Machir the Manassite. (1 Chronicles 7:15,16)
7. The wife of Jehiel, father or founder of Gibeon. (1 Chronicles 8:20; 9:35)
8. The father of Hanan, one of the heroes of David body-guard. (2 Chronicles 11:43)
9. A Simeonite, father of Sephatiah, prince of his tribe in the reign of David. (1 Chronicles 27:16)

Oppression, a small Syrian kingdom near Geshur, east of the Hauran, the district of Batanea (Joshua 13:13; 2 Samuel 10:6, 8; 1 Chronicles 19:7).

(2.) A daughter of Talmai, king of the old native population of Geshur. She became one of David's wives, and was the mother of Absalom (2 Samuel 3:3).

(3.) The father of Hanan, who was one of David's body-guard (1 Chronicles 11:43).

(4.) The daughter of Abishalom (called Absalom, 2 Chronicles 11:20-22), the third wife of Rehoboam, and mother of Abijam (1 Kings 15:2). She is called "Michaiah the daughter of Uriel," who was the husband of Absalom's daughter Tamar (2 Chronicles 13:2). Her son Abijah or Abijam was heir to the throne.

(5.) The father of Achish, the king of Gath (1 Kings 2:39), called also Maoch (1 Samuel 27:2).

MAACAH; MAACHAH

ma'-a-ka (ma`akhah):

(1) Septuagint: Codex Vaticanus Mocha; Codex Alexandrinus Mocha, daughter of Nahor, borne to him by Reumah (Genesis 22:24).

(2) Septuagint: Codex Vaticanus Maacha; Codex Alexandrinus Maachath, the one wife of David who was of royal rank, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur, who became the mother of Absalom (2 Samuel 3:3 1 Chronicles 3:2).

(3) Maacha, father of Achish, king of Gath (1 Kings 2:39). He is probably referred to as "Maoch" in 1 Samuel 27:2.

(4) The daughter of Absalom, the favorite wife of Rehoboam, and mother of Abijah (1 Kings 15:2 2 Chronicles 11:20, etc.). Evidently "daughter" must here be understood as "granddaughter," according to a common oriental usage. Tamar was the only daughter of Absalom. If Tamar married Uriel of Gibeah (2 Chronicles 13:2), then Maacah was her daughter. In that case the name Micaiah in this passage would be either a copyist's error or a variant of Maacah. She must have been a woman of strong personality. Unfortunately, her influence was cast upon the side of idolatry. She maintained her position in the palace, however, till the reign of her grandson Asa. Possibly she acted as regent during his minority. Ultimately, she was degraded by him for an act of peculiar infamy (1 Kings 15:13 2 Chronicles 15:16).

(5) Concubine of Caleb, son of Hezron (1 Chronicles 2:48).

(6) Sister of Huppim and Shuppim the Benjamites, who became the wife of Machir the Manassite, the "father" of Gilead (1 Chronicles 7:12, 15 f).

(7) Wife of Jeiel, the "father" of Gibeon, an ancestress of King Saul (1 Chronicles 8:29; 1 Chronicles 9:35).

(8) Father of Hanan, one of David's mighty men (1 Chronicles 11:43).

(9) Father of Shephatiah, ruler of the Simeonites under David (1 Chronicles 27:16).

W. Ewing

62. Abel Beth-maakah -- a city in Northern Israel
... Word Origin from abel, bayith and Maakah Definition a city in N. Isr. NASB Word
Usage Abel (1), Abel-beth-maacah (2). Abel-beth-maachah, Abel of Beth-maachah,. ...
/hebrew/62.htm - 6k

4601. Maakah -- an Israelite name, also a non-Isr. name, also a ...
... name, also a non-Isr. name, also a region in Syria NASB Word Usage Aram-maacah*
(1), Maacah (21), Maacath (1). Maachah, Maachathites. Or Mamakath (Josh. ...
/hebrew/4601.htm - 6k

1038. Beth Maakah -- "house of Maakah," a place in Northern Israel
... NASB Word Usage Beth-maacah (2). Beth-maachah. From bayith and Ma'akah; house of
Maakah; Beth-Maakah, a place in Palestine -- Beth-maachah. see HEBREW bayith. ...
/hebrew/1038.htm - 6k

Concerning Rehoboam, and How God Inflicted Punishment Upon Him for ...
... and had by her three children born to him, he married also another of his own kindred,
who was daughter of Absalom by Tamar, whose name was Maachah, and by her ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 concerning rehoboam and.htm

Asa
... and panderers. The leading spirit of the court-circle was Maachah, "the
King's mother," as she is called"the Sultana Valide. She ...
//christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/asa.htm

The Kingdom Op Judah.
... Asa's mother, Maachah, a daughter of Absalom, even had an idol in a grove; but after
the king had been strengthened to gain a great victory over the Ethiopians ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson vii the kingdom op.htm

The Great Confession - the Great Commission - the Great ...
... We still continued along the height, then descended a steep slope, leaving, on
our left, the ancient Abel Beth Maachah, [3628] the modern Abil. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxxvii the great confession.htm

The Nations of the North-East
... smaller Aramaic principalities of central Syria. Geshur, Maachah, Damascus
all acknowledged his authority. He had secured the caravan ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iv the nations of.htm

How David, when He had Recovered his Kingdom, was Reconciled to ...
... Joab. Now as he pursued Sheba through all the country of Israel, one told
him that he was in a strong city, called Abelbeth-maachah. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 11 how david when.htm

Maachah (19 Occurrences)
... 2). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MAACAH; MAACHAH. ma ... 16). W. Ewing.
Multi-Version Concordance Maachah (19 Occurrences). Genesis ...
/m/maachah.htm - 16k

Syria-maachah (1 Occurrence)
Syria-maachah. Syriamaachah, Syria-maachah. Syrian . Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia SYRIA-MAACHAH. sir'-ia-ma'a-ka. See MAACAH; SYRIA. ...
/s/syria-maachah.htm - 7k

Beth-maachah (1 Occurrence)
Beth-maachah. Bethmaachah, Beth-maachah. Bethmarcaboth . Multi-Version
Concordance Beth-maachah (1 Occurrence). 2 Samuel ...
/b/beth-maachah.htm - 6k

Aram-maachah (1 Occurrence)
Aram-maachah. Aram-ma'acah, Aram-maachah. Aramnaharaim . Multi-Version
Concordance Aram-maachah (1 Occurrence). 1 Chronicles ...
/a/aram-maachah.htm - 6k

Abel-beth-maachah (2 Occurrences)
Abel-beth-maachah. Abelbethmaachah, Abel-beth-maachah. Abelcheramim . Easton's
Bible Dictionary ... Multi-Version Concordance Abel-beth-maachah (2 Occurrences). ...
/a/abel-beth-maachah.htm - 8k

Abijah (32 Occurrences)
... It is said in 1 Kings 15:2 that "his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of
Abishalom;" but in 2 Chronicles 13:2 we read, "his mother's name was Michaiah ...
/a/abijah.htm - 25k

Abelbethmaachah (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Meadow of the house of Maachah, a city in the north of
Palestine, in the neighbourhood of Dan and Ijon, in the tribe of Naphtali. ...
/a/abelbethmaachah.htm - 8k

Maacah (30 Occurrences)
... In 1 Chronicles 19:6 it is called Aram-maacah, Syria-maachah (the King James Version);
and in 1 Chronicles 2:23 "Aram" appears instead of "Maacah." It ...
/m/maacah.htm - 20k

Mistress (20 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 15:13 and also Maachah his mother -- he turneth her aside from being mistress,
in that she made a horrible thing for a shrine, and Asa cutteth down her ...
/m/mistress.htm - 14k

Syriamaachah (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia SYRIA-MAACHAH. sir'-ia-ma'a-ka. See MAACAH;
SYRIA. Multi-Version Concordance Syriamaachah (1 Occurrence). ...
/s/syriamaachah.htm - 7k

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