Reference: Mahalath
American
In the title of Ps 53:1; 88:1, is conjectured to refer to the tune or the instrument used in chanting these Psalms; or a Gengstenberg and Alexander suggest, the spiritual malady which they lament.
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Easton
a lute; lyre. (1.) The daughter of Ishmael, and third wife of Esau (Ge 28:9); called also Bashemath (Ge 36:3).
(2.) The daughter of Jerimoth, who was one of David's sons. She was one of Rehoboam's wives (2Ch 11:18).
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Fausets
1. Daughter of Ishmael, Esau's wife, Bashemath. (See BASHEMATH.) In Ge 28:9, the narrative, she is called Mahalath; in Ge 36:3-4,10,13,17, the Edomite genealogy, she is called Bashemath. They are two names for the same person, both being described as "daughter of Ishmael, and sister of Nebaioth." But Bashemath, daughter of Eros, is the same as Adah daughter of Elon. So that there were two Bashemaths.
2. One of Rehoboam's 18 wives (2Ch 11:18). Her husband's cousin, daughter of David's son Jerimoth.
3. Title of Psalm 53 and Psalm 88. A poetical enigmatical description of the subject, "upon sickness," namely, man's spiritual malady (Isa 1:5-6). Psalm 53 is an instructive warning (maschil) to the wicked, as Psalm 14 is for the comfort of the righteous when cast down by the prevailing "corruption." The addition Leannoth, from 'anah "to afflict" (compare Ps 14:7), in Psalm 88 expresses "concerning the sickness of affliction," i.e. Israel's disorganization. Praise songs are the comfort of the afflicted. Psalm 88 is the most gloomy throughout of all the psalms, therefore the title (shir) praise song must refer to Psalm 89, which forms the latter part of one whole, of which Psalm 88 is the first part. The maschil or "instruction" is that the afflicted should pour out their grief to God (Jas 5:13). David and the sons of Korah after him delight in such poetical enigmas in titles of psalms. Gesenius and Ludolf derive Mahalath less probably from the Ethiopic machlet, a "harp". Delitzsch explains it as a direction for singing in slow pensive tone, ("moestoso").
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Morish
Mah'alath
1. Daughter of Ishmael and wife of Esau. Ge 28:9. See BASHEMATH.
2. Daughter of Jerimoth and wife of Rehoboam. 2Ch 11:18.
3. Name in the title of Ps. 53. Its meaning is not known. Some suppose that a mournful tune is referred to, or that it was written for a time of sorrow. Gesenius takes it as a harp or stringed instrument.