Lexical Definition

‎מְהֵיטַבְאֵל‎ Mᵉhêyṭabʼêl (meh-hay-tab-ale') Mehetabel ^N:N-F-P
from ‎יָטַב‎ (augmented) and ‎אֵל‎; bettered of God

Mehetabeel, Mehetabel.

• § Mehetabeel or Mehetabel = "favoured of God"
• Mehetabel, the name of an Edomitish man and woman

n pr m
1) the ancestor of Shemaiah, the false prophet who was hired against Nehemiah by Tobiah and Sanballat
n pr f
2) the daughter of Matred and wife of king Hadad of Edom

Extended Information

• A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.6.10
• father of: Delaiah (דְּלָיָה)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎מְהֵיטַבְאֵל‎ proper name, person ( = ‎מֵיטִיב אֵל‎ God benefits) —

1. feminine an Edomite princess Gen 36:39 (P), 1Chr 1:50.

2. maculine ancestor of the false prophet Shemaiah Neh 6:10.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • Nehemiah's opponent • Ancestor of Shemaiah, who opposed Nehemiah.

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Mehetabel was an ancestor of Shemaiah, who opposed Nehemiah's efforts to rebuild Jerusalem's walls (Neh.6.10).

• A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.6.10;
• only referred to as Mehetabel מְהֵיטַבְאֵל;
• father of Delaiah דְּלָיָה.

Mehetabel is mentioned in the context of Nehemiah's efforts to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. Shemaiah, a man described as "the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel," was hired by Nehemiah's enemies, Sanballat and Tobiah, to intimidate Nehemiah and hinder the work on the wall. Shemaiah invited Nehemiah to meet with him in the temple and suggested that they close the doors, claiming that there was a plot to kill Nehemiah. However, Nehemiah perceived that Shemaiah was not sent by God and that his prophecy was intended to frighten Nehemiah and discredit him (Nehemiah 6:10-13). Mehetabel's role in this narrative is limited to being mentioned as an ancestor of Shemaiah, providing context for Shemaiah's background and family lineage.

All entries for Mehetabel: מְהֵיטַבְאֵל

Related Profiles:

• Delaiah (child)