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•MADMENAH ibid., a town in Benjamin, not far from Jerusalem, towards the north (Isaiah 10:31). The same Hebrew word occurs in Isaiah 25:10, where it is rendered “dunghill.” This verse has, however, been interpreted as meaning “that Moab will be trodden down by Jehovah as teben [broken straw] is trodden to fragments on the threshing-floors of Madmenah.”
•MADNESS This word is used in its proper sense in Deuteronomy 28:34, John 10:20, 1 Corinthians 14:23. It also denotes a reckless state of mind arising from various causes, as over-study (Ecclesiastes 1:17; 2:12), blind rage (Luke 6:11), or a depraved temper (Ecclesiastes 7:25; 9:3; 2 Peter 2:16). David feigned madness (1 Samuel 21:13) at Gath because he “was sore afraid of Achish.”
•MADON strife, a Canaanitish city in the north of Palestine (Joshua 11:1; 12:19), whose king was slain by Joshua; perhaps the ruin Madin, near Hattin, some 5 miles west of Tiberias.
•MAGDALA a tower, a town in Galilee, mentioned only in Matthew 15:39. In the parallel passage in Mark 8:10 this place is called Dalmanutha. It was the birthplace of Mary called the Magdalen, or Mary Magdalene. It was on the west shore of the Lake of Tiberias, and is now probably the small obscure village called el-Mejdel, about 3 miles north-west of Tiberias. In the Talmud this city is called “the city of colour,” and a particular district of it was called “the tower of dyers.” The indigo plant was much cultivated here.
•MAGDALENE a surname derived from Magdala, the place of her nativity, given to one of the Marys of the Gospels to distinguish her from the other Marys (Matthew 27:56, 61; 28:1, etc.). A mistaken notion has prevailed that this Mary was a woman of bad character, that she was the woman who is emphatically called “a sinner” (Luke 7:36-50). (See MARY.)