Talmai
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Talmai in the Bible?
Talmai was the king of Geshur, a small Aramean polity in the northern Levant, and the father of Maacah, who became one of King David's wives. His daughter Maacah is identified in 2 Samuel 3:3 as the mother of Absalom, and Geshur served as a political sanctuary for Absalom during his rebellion against his father.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Talmai and Geshur clarifies the complex political alliances David maintained through marriage and explains the geopolitical context of Absalom's exile, highlighting how external Aramean powers influenced the internal succession struggles of the early Israelite monarchy.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.