Mal'chielite (Heb. Malkidi', "^bxiS^p, patro- nymic from Malchiel, used collectively; Sept. MnX;y;'" jjAi, Auth.Vers. " Malchielites"), a descendant of Mal- chiel (Numb, xxvi, 45).
Malchi'jah (in several passages, for different men). See M.VLCin.viL
Marchiram (Heb. Malkiram', Q'n"'5b'a, ling of lieiffht ; Sept. MiXxipa/jt), the second son of king Jehoi- acliin, born to him (according to Jewish tradition, by Susannah) during his captivity (1 Chron. iii, 18), and apparently himself without issue (see Strong's Harmony and Expos, of the Gosj}. p. 17). B.C. post 598,
Malchi-shu'a (Heb. Malki-Shu'a, i'ViT'isbp, kinr; ofhdp, twice as one word, ^'Vlj^sb'^, 1 Sam. xiv, 49; xxxi, 2; where the Auth.Vers. Anglicizes "Mel- chi-shua;" Septuag. and Vulg. everywhere MaXxicovk, Melchismi), the second or third named of the four sons of king Saul (1 Chron. viii, 33 ; ix, 39), apparently by Ahi- noam (1 Sam. xiv, 49) ; he perished in the battle at Gil- boa with his father (1 Sam. xxxi, 2 ; 1 Chron. x, 2). B.C. 1053. " In the fact that the name of Saul's eldest son was Jehovistic in form (Jehovah hath t/iven), whcmns no such peculiarity is found in the names of the other sons, some writers (e. g. Mr. F. Newman) have seen a trace of Saul's gradual apostasy. Josephus only mentions Mal- chishuah once, after his brothers (MiX^iaoc, Ant. vi, 14, 7)" (Kitto).
MaFchus (MaAxoc, from the Heb. T\^^^, king, or T^!1?"0, counsellor), a slave of the high-priest Caiaphas, and the individual among the party sent to arrest Jesus whose right ear was cut off by Peter in the garden of Gethsemane (John xviii, 10), but which was cured by a touch from Clirist (LiUie xxii, 51). He had a kinsman, another slave of tlie same master (.John xviii, 26). A.D. 29. The name of Malchus was not unfrequent among the Greeks (see Wetstein, ad loc. ; Gesenius, Montnn. Phcen. p. 409 ), but it was usually applied to persons of Oriental countries, as to an Arab chieftain (Josephus, Ant. xiii, 5, 1 ; xiv, 1 4, 1 ; XV, 6, 2) . This Malchus " was the personal servant (SovXoq) of the high-priest, and not one of the bailiffs or apparitors {u7rr]pkTr]c) of the Sanhedrhn. The high-priest intended is Caiaphas, no doubt (tli()iii;h Annas is called dpxupeiii: in the same connection), for John, who was personally known to the former (.John xviii, 15), is the only one of the evangelists who gives the name of JMalchus. This servant was probably stepping forward at tlie moment, with others, to handcuff or pinion Jesus, when the zealous Peter struck at him with his sword. The blow was undoubtedly meant to be more effective,
but reached only the ear. It may be, as Stier remarks (Reden Jesii, vi, 268), that the man, seeing the danger, tlirew his liead or body to the left, so as to expose the right ear more than the other. The allegation that the writers are inconsistent with each other, because ]\Iat- thew, Mark, and John say either loriov or ojrapiov (as if that meant the lappet or tip of the ear), while Luke says ovi;, is groundless. The Greek of the New Testa- ment age, like the modern Romaic, often made no dis- tinction between the primitive and diminutive. In fact, Luke himself exchanges the one term for the other in this very narrative. The Saviour, as his pursuers were about to seize him, asked to be left free for a moment longer (tnrt saic," tovtov), and that moment he used in restoring the wounded man to soundness. The aipdps- vof,' Toil wtIov may indicate (which is not forbidden by affTXtv, UTTiKoxpiv) that the ear still adhered slightlj' to its place. It is noticeable that Luke, the physician, is the only one of the writers who mentions the act of healing" (.Smith), " Some think Peter's name was omit- ted by the synoptists, lest the publication of it in his lifetime shovild expose him to the revenge of the unbe- lieving .Jews, but, as the gospels were wot published, this seems improbable" (Kitto).
Maldive Islands, a chain of low coral islands in the Indian Ocean, about 400 miles west-south-west of Ceylon, some 500 miles in length by 45 in average breadth, consist of 17 groups or atolls, each atoll sur- rounded by a coral reef. The entire number, including the islets, is estimated at about 50,000. Mali, the largest of the chain, seven miles in circumference, with a popu- lation of 2000, is the residence of the native prince, '• the sultan of the Twelve Thousand Islands,'" who is a tributary prince to the governor of Ceylon. The popu- lation of all the islands is estimated at 200,000. The larger and inhabited islands are clad with palm, fig, cit- ron, and bread-fruit trees. Grain is also abundantly pro- duced. Wild-fowl breed in prodigious numbers; fish, rice (imported from Hindustan), and cocoa-nuts, consti- tute the food of the inhabitants. These people are strict Mohammedans in their religion.
Maldonatus, Joannes (1), a celebrated Spanish Jesuit, was born at Las Casas-de-la-Reina, in Estremadu- ra, in 1534 ; studied at the University of Salamanca, and afterwards taught Greek, philosophy, and theologj^ with great success ; the lecture-rooms of the college were of- ten too small to accommodate his numerous pupils. He subsequently removed to Poitiers, France, from whence the cardinal of Lorraine brought him to the University of Pont-ii-]Mousson, Later he came to Paris, and there created an unprecedented enthusiasm. His exegetical lectures were attended not only by Romanists, but even by Protestants, and the renown of his teaching reminds one of the historj^ of Abelard, His brilliant course was checkered by accusations against him of having induced the president, Montbrun, to will away all his fortune to the Order of the Jesuits, and of teaching false doctrines touching the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. He was acquitted, however, on both charges, but left Paris, and retired to Bourges, Avhere he devoted himself to ex- egetical studies, and prepared several of the \vorks (see list below) which have made his name celebrated. He was called to Rome by pope Gregory XIII, to take a part in the publication of the Greek Septuagint. He died in that city in 1583. His principal works are Com- mentarii in prcecijmos Sacra: Scripturm libros Veteris Testamenti (Paris, 1643, fol.) : — Comnmitarii in quatuor Evangelist as, etc.(Lugd. 1615 ; Mayence, 1841-45, 5 vols. 8vo). " Though condemned by some, and procuring for its author tlie title of ' virulentissimus et maledicentissi- mus,' this work has received from Catholic and Protes- tant writers a just meed of praise (see Bayle, Richard Simon, Schlichtingius, INI. Poole, and Jackson). In this work Maldonatus collates the opinions of the lathers with great abilitj', and does not hesitate to differ even from Augustine, when sound exegesis demands it. He shows acquaintance with the Vatican MS. of the N. T.,