Mahalath

The title of the l3: and l38. Psalms. The design is wholly conjectural, what the meaning of the phrase is. If the word be derived, as some have said, from Machol, it hath respect to singing. Some derive it from Chalah, signifying infirmity. See Musician.

Ma´halath, the title of Psalms 53, 88 [PSALMS, BOOK OF].

In the title of Psa 53:1 ; 88:1, is conjectured to refer to the tune or the instrument used in chanting these Psalms; or a Gengstenberg and Alexander suggest, the spiritual malady which they lament.\par

Mahalath. (stringed instrument).

1. The daughter of Ishmael, and one of the wives of Esau. Gen 28:9.

2. One of the eighteen wives of King Rehoboam, apparently his first. 2Ch 11:18 only. She was her husband’s cousin, being the daughter of King David’s son, Jerimoth.

3. The title of Psalms 53, and Mahalath-leannoth, the title of Psalms 88. The meaning of these words is uncertain. The conjecture is that mahalath is a guitar, and that leannoth has reference to the character of the psalm, and might be rendered "to humble or afflict", in which sense the root occurs in Psa 88:7.

1. Daughter of Ishmael, Esau’s wife, Bashemath. (See BASHEMATH.) In Gen 28:9, the narrative, she is called Mahalath; in Gen 36:3-4; Gen 36:10; Gen 36:13; Gen 36:17, the Edomite genealogy, she is called Bashemath. They are two names for the same person, both being described as "daughter of Ishmael, and sister of Nebaioth." But Bashemath, daughter of Eros, is the same as Adah daughter of Elon. So that there were two Bashemaths.

2. One of Rehoboam’s 18 wives (2Ch 11:18). Her husband’s cousin, daughter of David’s son Jerimoth.

3. Title of Psalm 53 and Psalm 88. A poetical enigmatical description of the subject, "upon sickness," namely, man’s spiritual malady (Isa 1:5-6). Psalm 53 is an instructive warning (maschil) to the wicked, as Psalm 14 is for the comfort of the righteous when cast down by the prevailing "corruption." The addition Leannoth, from ’anah "to afflict" (compare Psa 14:15), in Psalm 88 expresses "concerning the sickness of affliction," i.e. Israel’s disorganization. Praise songs are the comfort of the afflicted. Psalm 88 is the most gloomy throughout of all the psalms, therefore the title (shir) praise song must refer to Psalm 89, which forms the latter part of one whole, of which Psalm 88 is the first part. The maschil or "instruction" is that the afflicted should pour out their grief to God (Jas 5:13). David and the sons of Korah after him delight in such poetical enigmas in titles of psalms. Gesenius and Ludolf derive Mahalath less probably from the Ethiopic machlet, a "harp". Delitzsch explains it as a direction for singing in slow pensive tone, ("moestoso").

[Mah’alath]

1. Daughter of Ishmael and wife of Esau. Gen 28:9. See BASHEMATH.

2. Daughter of Jerimoth and wife of Rehoboam. 2Ch 11:18.

3. Name in the title of Psa 53. Its meaning is not known. Some suppose that a mournful tune is referred to, or that it was written for a time of sorrow. Gesenius takes it as a harp or stringed instrument.

MAHALATH.—1. See Basemath, No. 1.—2. Wife of Rehoboam, 2Ch 11:18. 3. See Psalms, p. 772^a.

ma´ha-lath (מחלת, maḥălath):

(1) In Gen 28:9 the name of a wife of Esau, daughter of Ishmael, and sister of Nebaioth, called in Gen 36:3, BASEMATH (which see). The Samaritan Pentateuch, however, throughout Genesis 36 retains “Mahalath.” On the other hand, in Gen 26:34 Basemath is said to be “the daughter of Elon the Hittite,” probably a confusion with Adah, as given in Gen 36:2, or corruption may exist in the lists otherwise.

(2) One of the 18 wives of Rehoboam, a grand-daughter of David (2Ch 11:18).

(3) The word is found in the titles of Psa 53:1-6 (the Revised Version (British and American) “set to Mahalath”) and Ps 88 (the Revised Version (British and American) “set to Mahalath Leannoth,” margin “for singing”). Probably some song or tune is meant, though the word is taken by many to denote a musical instrument. Hengstenberg and others interpret it as indicating the subject of the Psalms. See PSALMS.