Sela Hammahlekoth
“Rock of Escapes or Divisions”
☩Location and Event
Sela-hammahlekoth was a cliff or rock in the wilderness of Maon, southeast of Hebron. It was the scene of one of David's remarkable escapes during Saul's pursuit. As Saul closed in on David, with David on one side of the mountain and Saul on the other, a messenger arrived announcing a Philistine invasion, forcing Saul to abandon the chase.
☩Name Meaning
The Hebrew name is interpreted as either 'the rock of escapes' or 'the rock of divisions.' The 'escape' refers to David's deliverance; the 'divisions' may describe either Saul's divided mind (whether to pursue David or fight the Philistines) or the physical seams and ravines down the cliff that facilitated David's escape. The place has been tentatively identified with Wady Malaky, 'seamed with many torrent beds.'
Related Verses1 mention
1 Samuel· 1 verse
References
- 1.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Selahammahlekoth," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 2.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Sela-Hammahlekoth," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 3.John McClintock and James Strong, "Sela-hammahlekoth," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 4.John McClintock and James Strong, "Sela-hammahlekoth," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 5.George Morrish, "Selahammahlekoth," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).