Who was Maacah in the Bible?

Maacah was a concubine of Caleb, son of Hezron, from the tribe of Judah. She is noted as the mother of his sons Sheber and Tirhanah (1 Chronicles 2:48).

Why is Maacah mentioned in the Bible?

Maacah is listed in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles to trace the lineage of Judah and Caleb's family. Her mention helps establish the continuity and expansion of this important tribe in Israel's history.

What is the significance of Maacah being a concubine?

In ancient Israelite culture, a concubine was a secondary wife with legal protections, often contributing to building a large family line. Maacah's status as a concubine highlights how genealogies included all children who were part of the tribal and familial structure.

Maacah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyFemaleMother

Maacah, Caleb's concubine, was the mother of Sheber and Tirhanah (1Ch.2.48).

Maacah

Biography

Maacah was one of Caleb's concubines, recorded in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 2:48. Through her union with Caleb, she bore two sons: Sheber and Tirhanah. This Caleb is generally identified not as the famous spy companion of Joshua, but rather as a descendant within the larger Judahite genealogy traced through Hezron. Maacah's inclusion in these genealogical lists, which meticulously document the families that comprised the tribe of Judah, places her within one of the most significant tribal lineages in all of Israel. The Chronicler's attention to recording her name and offspring reflects the importance of preserving the family lines through which God's promises to Judah would ultimately be fulfilled.

Significance

Maacah's brief genealogical mention carries weight within the broader narrative of Judah's tribal history. As a concubine of Caleb, she participated in extending a prominent family line within the tribe from which Israel's monarchy and ultimately the Messiah would arise. Her inclusion in the Chronicler's careful records demonstrates that Scripture honors all who contributed to the continuity of God's covenant people, regardless of social standing. The genealogies of 1 Chronicles serve a theological purpose far beyond mere record-keeping: they trace the divine thread of promise through generations, and Maacah's presence within them affirms that every link in the chain of redemptive history matters.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 2:48

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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