Mahol

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

MAHOL. The father of Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Chalcol, and Darda (  1 Kings 4:31 ), who are mentioned as famous for their wisdom, though surpassed in this respect by Solomon. Apparently, then, Mahol is a proper name, but it is also found in   Psalms 149:3;   Psalms 150:4 (EV [Note: English Version.] tr. [Note: translate or translation.] ‘dance’) amongst instruments of music, so that the four wise men mentioned above may really be described as ‘sons of music,’ in which case their wisdom may have consisted chiefly in their skill in the composition of hymns.

T. A. Moxon.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Father of Ethan the Ezrahite,. Heman, Chalcol, and Darda ( 1 Kings 4:31;  1 Chronicles 2:6). Some interpret "sons of song" or rather "dance" ( Machol ), dancing often accompanying hymns ( Exodus 15:20;  2 Samuel 6:14).

Morrish Bible Dictionary

A man whose sons were renowned for their wisdom, but whose wisdom was excelled by that of Solomon.  1 Kings 4:31 . Four men with similar names are in  1 Chronicles 2:6 , said to be sons of Zerah. These four are possibly the same persons, the word 'son' signifying grandson in one of the passages.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Kings 4:31 Psalm 149:3 Psalm 150:4 1 Samuel 10:5 2 Kings 3:15 1 Chronicles 25:3

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ma'hol. (Dancing). The father of the four men most famous for wisdom, next to Solomon himself.  1 Kings 4:31;  1 Chronicles 2:6.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 1 Kings 4:31

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Machol', מָחוֹל , a sacred Dance, as in Psalm 20:12, etc.; Sept. Μαχώλ ; Josephus ᾿Ημαών , Ant. 8:2, 5), a person apparently named as the father of the famous wise men Ethan, Heman, Chalcol, and Darda (or at least of the last two), prior to the time of Solomon ( 1 Kings 4:31); but if these be the same with those enumerated as sons of Zerah ( 1 Chronicles 2:6), the word must be taken as elsewhere to denote simply their pursuit, as musical composers (see Keil's Comment. ad loc. Kings), an art with which dancing has ever been intimately connected. (See Ethan).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mā´hol ( מחול , māḥōl , "dance"; compare בּני־מחול , benē - māḥōl , "sons of dance"): The father of the 4 sages reputed next in wisdom to Solomon (  1 Kings 4:31 ). Their names were Ethan, Heman, Chalcol, Darda.