to a son that was to be born to him (Isaiah 8:1, 3), as denoting the sudden
attack on Damascus and Syria by the Assyrian army.
- MAHLAH disease, one of the five daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers
27:1-11) who had their father’s inheritance, the law of inheritance having
been altered in their favour. - MAHLON sickly, the elder of Elimelech the Bethlehemite’s two sons by
Naomi. He married Ruth and died childless (Ruth 1:2, 5; 4:9, 10), in the
land of Moab. - MAHOL dance, the father of four sons (1 Kings 4:31) who were inferior
in wisdom only to Solomon. - MAIL, COAT OF “a corselet of scales,” a cuirass formed of pieces of
metal overlapping each other, like fish-scales (1 Samuel 17:5); also (38) a
corselet or garment thus encased. - MAIN-SAIL (Gr. artemon), answering to the modern “mizzen-sail,” as
some suppose. Others understand the “jib,” near the prow, or the
“fore-sail,” as likely to be most useful in bringing a ship’s head to the wind
in the circumstances described (Acts 27:40). - MAKHELOTH assemblies, a station of the Israelites in the desert
(Numbers 33:25, 26). - MAKKEDAH herdsman’s place, one of the royal cities of the Canaanites
(Joshua 12:16), near which was a cave where the five kings who had
confederated against Israel sought refuge (10:10-29). They were put to
death by Joshua, who afterwards suspended their bodies upon five trees.
It has been identified with the modern village called Sumeil, standing on a
low hill about 7 miles to the north-west of Eleutheropolis (Beit Jibrin),
where are ancient remains and a great cave. The Palestine Exploration
surveyors have, however, identified it with el-Mughar, or “the caves,” 3
miles from Jabneh and 2 1/2 southwest of Ekron, because, they say, “at
this site only of all possible sites for Makkedah in the Palestine plain do
caves still exist.” (See ADONI-ZEDEC.) - MAKTESH mortar, a place in or near Jerusalem inhabited by silver
merchants (Zephaniah 1:11). It has been conjectured that it was the
“Phoenician quarter” of the city, where the traders of that nation resided,
after the Oriental custom.