Original Word: מַכְבֵּנָא
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Makbena'
Pronunciation: mak-beh-NAH
Phonetic Spelling: (mak-bay-naw')
KJV: Machbenah
NASB: Machbena
Word Origin: [from the same as H3522 (כַּבּוֹן - Cabbon)]

1. knoll
2. Macbena, a place in Israel settled by him

Machbenah

From the same as Kabbown; knoll; Macbena, a place in Palestine settled by him -- Machbenah.

see HEBREW Kabbown

Word Origin
from the same as Kabbon
Definition
a desc. of Caleb
NASB Translation
Machbena (1).

מַכְבֵּנָה (van d. H מַכְבֵּנָא) proper name, of a location 1 Chronicles 2:49 (represented as having שְׁוָא for father; possibly = foregoing), ᵐ5 Μαχβανα, ᵐ5^L Μαξβανα.

Biblical Reference

Machbenah appears once in Scripture—“Sheva the father of Machbenah and Gibea; and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah” (1 Chronicles 2:49)—within the genealogy of the tribe of Judah and the family line of faithful Caleb.

Tribal and Genealogical Setting

The Chronicler groups Machbenah with Madmannah, Gibea, and other Calebite towns, illustrating the fruitfulness of the territory allotted to Caleb (Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:13–14). Each settlement is attributed to a “father,” underscoring clan leadership and confirming that God honored His promise to Caleb’s descendants.

Geographical Considerations

Though its exact location is unknown, Machbenah likely lay in the southern Shephelah or northern Negev near Madmannah and Gibea, forming part of a defensive and agricultural network south of Hebron. Proposed sites include Khirbet el-Maqbara and Tell el-Mekhbana, but none are certain. Its presence in Judah’s frontier zone reflects strategic expansion during the Judges or early monarchy period.

Historical Perspective

Designating Sheva as “father of Machbenah” implies the town originated as a Calebite colony, strengthening Judah against Philistine and Edomite pressure. When the Chronicler compiled these records after the exile, listing Machbenah helped returning families reclaim ancestral lands (cf. Nehemiah 11:25–30).

Theological Implications

1. Covenant Faithfulness—God’s promises to Caleb were fulfilled down to the smallest settlement (Joshua 14:9).
2. Corporate Identity—Genealogies link people to places, affirming that divine blessing encompasses whole communities.
3. Value of the Hidden—An obscure town recorded once shows that nothing in God’s plan is insignificant (Hebrews 6:10).

Ministry Reflections

• Church Planting—Machbenah mirrors small congregations birthed by pioneers of faith; solid leadership and strategic vision yield lasting witness.
• Stewardship of Heritage—Recording God’s past works, as the Chronicler did, fuels present trust and future mission.
• Outreach to Margins—Its frontier setting encourages extending ministry beyond established centers into overlooked regions.

Devotional Application

Machbenah reminds believers that the Lord cares for the smallest details of His people’s inheritance, prompting confidence in His meticulous providence (Psalm 139:3).

Related Sites

Madmannah (Joshua 15:31), Gibea (Joshua 15:57), Hebron (Joshua 14:14), Kirjath Sepher (Judges 1:11), and other Negev settlements (Nehemiah 11:25–30) illuminate Machbenah’s context.

Conclusion

Briefly named yet permanently recorded, Machbenah testifies to fulfilled promises, strategic settlement, and the enduring care of the covenant-keeping God.

מַכְבֵּנָ֖ה מכבנה machbeNah maḵ·bê·nāh maḵbênāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts