מֶלְתָּחָה
a wardrobe (i.e. room where clothing is spread)
Definition
The Hebrew word מֶלְתָּחָה (meltâchâh) refers to a dedicated room or storage area for clothing, specifically a wardrobe or vestry. It denotes a place where garments are kept, likely spread out or arranged for storage or preparation. This term appears only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Kings 10:22, where it describes a room in the temple of Baal used for storing the special vestments worn by worshippers. There are no other biblical occurrences, so its meaning is consistent and specific to this single context.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only in 2 Kings 10:22. It occurs in the narrative where Jehu commands the keeper of the wardrobe (מֶלְתָּחָה) at the temple of Baal to bring out garments for all the worshippers of Baal. The context is cultic, associated with a pagan temple's operational spaces. Its singular usage provides a specific, concrete detail in a story of religious purge and deception.
Etymology
Derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to spread out,' likely referring to the spreading or arranging of garments. The noun form suggests a place where such spreading occurs. Cognates or related words in other Semitic languages are not well-attested, leaving its etymology primarily based on this traditional root meaning.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a mundane term for a storage room, its sole biblical appearance in 2 Kings 10:22 carries theological weight. It highlights the organized, institutional nature of Baal worship that Jehu is about to destroy. The detail of the vestry underscores the irony and thoroughness of God's judgment, as even the garments for idolatrous rites are used in the scheme that leads to the worshippers' demise. Understanding this term enriches the reading by emphasizing the concrete, physical elements of false religion that are ultimately powerless before Yahweh's sovereign purposes.
In the ancient Near East, temples often had dedicated rooms for storing ritual vestments and paraphernalia, similar to the vestries in later religious traditions. The מֶלְתָּחָה in 2 Kings reflects this practical aspect of cultic administration. Its mention indicates that the temple of Baal in Samaria was a well-equipped, formal religious center, making its sudden destruction all the more dramatic.
לָבוּשׁ (lâbûsh, H3830) — a general term for clothing or garment, not a storage place. עֲלִיָּה (ʿălîyâh, H5944) — an upper room or chamber, which could be used for storage but is not specific to garments.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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