Moladah is a biblical town mentioned in the Old Testament, primarily associated with the tribe of Judah. It is situated in the southern part of ancient Israel, within the Negev region. The name "Moladah" is thought to mean "birth" or "generation," reflecting its possible significance in the genealogical records of the Israelites.

Biblical References:

1. Joshua 15:26 · Moladah is first mentioned in the context of the territorial allotments to the tribes of Israel. It is listed among the cities in the southern part of the territory assigned to the tribe of Judah: "Amam, Shema, Moladah."

2. 1 Chronicles 4:28 · The town is again referenced in the genealogical records of the descendants of Simeon, who settled in certain cities within the territory of Judah: "They lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar Shual."

3. Nehemiah 11:26 · During the period of the return from the Babylonian exile, Moladah is noted as one of the places where the people of Judah resettled: "and in Hazar Shual, and in Beersheba and its villages, and in Moladah."

Historical and Archaeological Context:

Moladah's location in the Negev places it in a region characterized by arid conditions, which would have influenced the lifestyle and economy of its inhabitants. The town's mention alongside other significant locations such as Beersheba suggests its role as part of a network of settlements that supported the pastoral and agricultural activities of the tribes of Judah and Simeon.

Archaeological evidence from the region, while not definitively linked to Moladah, provides insights into the broader cultural and historical context of the Negev during the biblical period. Excavations in nearby areas have uncovered remains of ancient settlements, fortifications, and agricultural installations, indicating a well-established presence in the region.

Theological Significance:

Moladah's inclusion in the biblical narrative underscores the importance of land and settlement in the identity and history of the Israelite tribes. The town's repeated mention in genealogical and territorial records highlights the continuity of God's promises to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as they took possession of the land allotted to them.

The resettlement of Moladah during the post-exilic period, as noted in Nehemiah, reflects the restoration and renewal of the Jewish community following the Babylonian captivity. This return to ancestral lands is seen as a fulfillment of divine promises and a testament to God's faithfulness to His covenant people.

In summary, Moladah serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of the tribal inheritances and the faithfulness of God in the history of Israel. Its presence in the biblical record provides a glimpse into the life and organization of the ancient Israelites as they established their identity in the Promised Land.Moladah

birth; generation

Moladah

(birth, race), a city of Judah, one of those which lay in the district of "the south." (Joshua 15:26; 19:2) In the latter tribe it remained at any rate till the reign of David, (1 Chronicles 4:28) but by the time of the captivity it seems to have come back into the hands of Judah, by whom it was reinhabited after the captivity. (Nehemiah 11:26) It may be placed at el-Milh , which is about 4 English miles from Tell Arad , 17 or 18 from Hebron, and 9 or 10 due east of Beersheba.

Birth, a city in the south of Judah which fell to Simeon (Joshua 15:21-26; 19:2). It has been identified with the modern el-Milh, 10 miles east of Beersheba. MOLADAH

mol'-a-da, mo-la'-da (moladhah; Molada): A place in the far south (Negebh) of Judah, toward Edom (Joshua 15:26), reckoned to Simeon (Joshua 19:2 1 Chronicles 4:28). It was repopulated after the captivity (Nehemiah 11:26). It is mentioned always in close proximity to Beersheba. Moladah is probably identical with Malatha, a city in Idumea to which Agrippa at one time withdrew himself (Josephus, Ant, XVIII, vi, 2). The site of this latter city has by Robinson and others been considered to be the ruins and wells of Tell el-Milch, some 13 miles to the East of Beersheba and some 7 miles Southwest of Arad. The chief difficulty is the statement of Eusebius and Jerome that Malatha was "by Jattir," i.e. `Attir; if this is correct the Tell el-Milch is impossible, as it is 10 miles from `Attir, and we have no light at all on the site. See SALT, CITY OF. For Tell el-Milch see PEF, III, 415-16, Sh XXV.

E. W. G. Masterman

4137. Moladah -- a city in Simeon
... 4136, 4137. Moladah. 4138 . a city in Simeon. Transliteration: Moladah
Phonetic Spelling: (mo-law-daw') Short Definition: Moladah. ...
/hebrew/4137.htm - 6kMoladah (4 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MOLADAH. ...Moladah (4 Occurrences). Joshua
15:26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV). ...
/m/moladah.htm - 8k

Mola'dah (4 Occurrences)
Mola'dah. Moladah, Mola'dah. Mold . Multi-Version Concordance Mola'dah (4
Occurrences). Joshua 15:26 Amam, and Shema, and Moladah; (See RSV). ...
/m/mola'dah.htm - 7k

Molada (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Molada (1 Occurrence). Joshua 15:26 Amam, Shema,
Moladah, (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). ...
/m/molada.htm - 6k

Shema (7 Occurrences)
... Horace J. Wolf. Multi-Version Concordance Shema (7 Occurrences). Joshua 15:26 Amam,
Shema, Moladah, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/shema.htm - 10k

Beer-sheba (33 Occurrences)
... YLT RSV). Joshua 19:2 And they had for their inheritance Beer-sheba, or Sheba,
and Moladah, (ASV BBE DBY JPS WBS YLT RSV). Judges 20 ...
/b/beer-sheba.htm - 16k

Beersheba (33 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:28 Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah, (WEB KJV NAS NIV). Joshua 19:2
They had for their inheritance Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah, (WEB KJV NAS NIV). ...
/b/beersheba.htm - 22k

Hazar-shual (4 Occurrences)
... 27). It has been identified with the ruins of Saweh, half-way between Beersheba
and Moladah. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HAZAR ...
/h/hazar-shual.htm - 8k

Hazarshual (4 Occurrences)
... 27). It has been identified with the ruins of Saweh, half-way between Beersheba
and Moladah. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HAZAR ...
/h/hazarshual.htm - 7k

Pelet (4 Occurrences)
... JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Nehemiah 11:26 and in Jeshua, and
in Moladah, and Beth Pelet, (WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS RSV NIV). ...
/p/pelet.htm - 8k

Bethphelet (1 Occurrence)
... beth-fe'-let. See BETH-PELET. Multi-Version Concordance Bethphelet (1 Occurrence).
Nehemiah 11:26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet, (KJV). ...
/b/bethphelet.htm - 6k

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