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Naamah

NAAMAH (nā'a-ma, Heb. na‘ămâh, pleasant). The feminine of Naam and the name of:

1. A daughter of Lamech and Zillah (Gen.4.22). She was a sister of Tubal-Cain, who “forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron.”

2. A woman of Ammon, wife of Solomon, and mother of Rehoboam (1Kgs.14.21, 1Kgs.14.31) and as such the chief lady of the court.

3. A town mentioned in Josh.15.41 as an inheritance of Judah. It was situated in the lowland, probably near Makkedah, though the site has not been identified. Some believe it was located where the modern Na‘anah now is. There is no other mention of this place.

4. Possibly a town in north Arabia. In Job.2.11 Zophar is called the Naamathite and may have been from this town.

NAAMAH nā’ ə mə (נַֽעֲמָֽה, for forms in LXX see below); means pleasant, delightful, sweet.

1. Of the descendants of Cain, a daughter of Lamech and Zillah, and brother of Tubalcain (Gen 4:22, LXX Νοεμα, LXX Lucian Νοεμμα). She is the only daughter named in the lineage of either Cain or Abel (Gen 4:17-5:32).

2. Ammonitess wife of Solomon and mother of Rehoboam. It is clear that Solomon’s illegal marriage with her caused in part Judah’s disaffection from Yahweh and his introduction of high places, pillars, Asherim and male cult prostitutes (1 Kings 14:21, LXX Μααχαμ, LXX Alexandrinus Μααμα, LXX Lucian Ναανα, 2 Chron 12:13, LXX Νοομα, LXX Lucian Νααμα; also 1 Kings 14:31 but omitted in LXX Vaticanus, LXX Lucian, etc.).

3. A city in the Shephelah in Judah’s inheritance and in the same group with Lachish, Eglon and Makkedon. Accordingly, it prob. is identical not to modern Na’neh six m. S of Lydda (NBD, 858) but to Khirbet Fared nearby to ’Araq Na’aman. Zopher was a Naamathite, the adjectival form of Naamah, but there is no certainty that this is the same Naamah (Job 2:11).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

na’-a-ma. (na`amah, "pleasant"; Noema):

(1) Daughter of Lamech and Zillah, and sister of Tubal-cain (Ge 4:22; compare Josephus, Ant, I, ii, 2).

(2) An Ammonitish woman whom Solomon married, and who became the mother of Rehoboam (1Ki 14:21; 2Ch 12:13). According to an addition in the Septuagint following 1Ki 12:24, "her name was Naaman, the daughter of Ana (Hanun) son of Nahash, king of the sons of Ammon" (see Benzinger, Konige, in the place cited.).

(1) One of a group of 16 lowland (Shephelah) cities forming part of Judah’s inheritance (Jos 15:41).

(2) The home of Zophar, one of Job’s friends (Job 2:11, etc.).

See Naamathite.