Maacah; Maachah

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

(1) Septuagint: Codex Vaticanus Mocha; Codex Alexandrinus Mocha, daughter of Nahor, borne to him by Reumah (Gen 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 Sam 3:3; 1 Chr 3:2).

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

(4) The daughter of Absalom, the favorite wife of Rehoboam, and mother of Abijah (1 Kgs 15:2; 2 Chr 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 Chr 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 Kgs 15:13; 2 Chr 15:16).

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

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

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

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

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

W. Ewing