Maacah

MAACAH, MAACHAH (mā'a-ka, Heb. ma‘ăkhâh, oppression)

Bibliography

B. Mazur, “Geshur and Maacah,” JBL, LXXX (March, 1961), 16-28.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

It evidently lay between Geshur on the South and Hermon on the North, being probably bounded by Jordan on the West, although no certain indication of boundaries is now possible. They would thus be hemmed in by Israel, which accounts for `Geshur and Maacath dwell in the midst of Israel" (Jos 13:13).It is possible that Abel-beth-maacah may have been a colony founded by men from Maacah.

(1) Septuagint: Codex Vaticanus Mocha; Codex Alexandrinus Mocha, daughter of Nahor, borne to him by Reumah (Ge 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 (2Sa 3:3; 1Ch 3:2).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Additional Material

MAACAH (person) mā ə kə (מַעֲכָֽה, LXX Μα [α, G1] χα, meaning uncertain; perhaps related to the root to press or squeeze). Numerous OT figures both male and female have this name.

The males were:

1. A son of Nahor by his concubine Re’umah (Gen 22:24). He became the ancestor of the people called by his name who dwelt W of Bashan, near Zobah (2 Sam 10:6, 8) and Geshur (Josh 13:13). These people were never driven out by the Israelites and continued to live among them.

2. The father of Hanan, a hero of David (1 Chron 11:43).

3. The name of a Simeonite (1 Chron 27:16).

4. The father of Achish the Philistine king of Gath (1 Kings 2:39).

The females were:

1. The daughter of Talmai a Geshurite princess who became a wife of David and the mother of Absalom during David’s reign at Hebron (2 Sam 3:3; 1 Chron 3:2). Absalom fled for safety to his mother’s homeland after he killed his half-brother Ammon (2 Sam 13:37, 38).

2. The idolatrous daughter of Absalom, the favorite wife of the eighteen wives of Rehoboam. She became the mother of King Abijam (1 Kings 15:2; 2 Chron 11:20-22) who also married a girl named Maacah (3 below) who apparently was the granddaughter of Absalom (1 Kings 15:9, 10).

3. The mother of the good King Asa who removed idols and even his own grandmother, Maacah (2 above) from being queen mother because she had set up an abominable image of the Canaanite goddess Asherah. He cut down the image and burned it at the brook Kidron (1 Kings 15:11-13). But it must be made clear that this Maacah was not the daughter of Abishalom (Absalom) (as 2 above) but was a granddaughter, which clarifies a comparison of 1 Kings 15:2 and 1 Kings 15:9, 10. The Heb. language does not find it necessary to use a special word to distinguish between parents and grandparents. This Maacah, the wife of Abijam (Abijah) was named after her aunt, the queen mother, and she in turn became the mother of Asa.

4. A concubine of Caleb (1 Chron 2:48).

5. The wife of a Manassite named Machir the father of Gilead (1 Chron 7:14-16).

6. Wife of Jehiel (1 Chron 8:29).