- MADAI middle land, the third “son” of Japheth (Genesis 10:2), the name
by which the Medes are known on the Assyrian monuments. - MADMANNAH dunghill, the modern el-Minyay, 15 miles
south-south-west of Gaza (Joshua 15:31; 1 Chronicles 2:49), in the south
of Judah. The Pal. Mem., however, suggest Umm Deimneh, 12 miles
north-east of Beersheba, as the site. - MADMEN ibid., a Moabite town threatened with the sword of the
Babylonians (Jeremiah 48:2). - MADMENAH ibid., a town in Benjamin, not far from Jerusalem, towards
the north (Isaiah 10:31). The same Hebrew word occurs in Isaiah 25:10,
where it is rendered “dunghill.” This verse has, however, been interpreted
as meaning “that Moab will be trodden down by Jehovah as teben [broken
straw] is trodden to fragments on the threshing-floors of Madmenah.” - MADNESS This word is used in its proper sense in Deuteronomy 28:34,
John 10:20, 1 Corinthians 14:23. It also denotes a reckless state of mind
arising from various causes, as over-study (Ecclesiastes 1:17; 2:12), blind
rage (Luke 6:11), or a depraved temper (Ecclesiastes 7:25; 9:3; 2 Peter
2:16). David feigned madness (1 Samuel 21:13) at Gath because he “was
sore afraid of Achish.” - MADON strife, a Canaanitish city in the north of Palestine (Joshua 11:1;
12:19), whose king was slain by Joshua; perhaps the ruin Madin, near
Hattin, some 5 miles west of Tiberias. - MAGDALA a tower, a town in Galilee, mentioned only in Matthew
15:39. In the parallel passage in Mark 8:10 this place is called Dalmanutha.
It was the birthplace of Mary called the Magdalen, or Mary Magdalene. It
was on the west shore of the Lake of Tiberias, and is now probably the
small obscure village called el-Mejdel, about 3 miles north-west of
Tiberias. In the Talmud this city is called “the city of colour,” and a
particular district of it was called “the tower of dyers.” The indigo plant
was much cultivated here. - MAGDALENE a surname derived from Magdala, the place of her nativity,
given to one of the Marys of the Gospels to distinguish her from the other
Marys (Matthew 27:56, 61; 28:1, etc.). A mistaken notion has prevailed
that this Mary was a woman of bad character, that she was the woman
who is emphatically called “a sinner” (Luke 7:36-50). (See MARY.)
kiana
(Kiana)
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