Mahol
“Dance or sacred dance”
Summary
Mahol was the father of four men renowned for their wisdom—Ethan, Heman, Chalcol, and Darda—whose wisdom, though great, was surpassed by Solomon's.
☩The Father of Sages
When Scripture describes Solomon's incomparable wisdom, it states that he was wiser than all men—specifically naming Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, 'the sons of Mahol.' These four were evidently renowned in Israel for their wisdom, perhaps as composers of songs or proverbs. The name Mahol means 'dance,' and some scholars suggest that 'sons of Mahol' may be a designation of their occupation as musicians or performers rather than a literal patronymic, since dancing often accompanied hymns and sacred music. Four men with similar names appear in 1 Chronicles 2:6 as sons of Zerah; if these are the same persons, 'Mahol' in Kings may indicate their profession rather than their literal father.
Related Verses1 mention
1 Kings· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Mahol," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Mahol," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Mahol," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 4.George Morrish, "Mahol," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).