מַחֲלֹקֶת

n.f. division, course (almost wholly Chr.)—מ׳ abs. 1 Ch 27:1, 2; cstr. 1 Ch 27:4; sf. מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ 1 Ch 27:2 + 14 times 1 Ch 27; abs. מַחְלְקוֹת 1 Ch 23:6 + 6 times Ch + 1 S 23:28 (v. infr.); cstr. id. 1 Ch 26:12 + 5 times Ch + Ne 11:36; sf. מַהְלְקוֹתֵיכֶם 2 Ch 35:4; מַחְלְקוֹתֵיהֶם 2 Ch 31:16, 17; מַחְלְקוֹתָם 1 Ch 24:1 + 3 times in Ch; מַחְלְקֹתָם Jos 11:23; 12:7; 18:10 Ez 48:29;— division, part, of land assigned to the several tribes of Isr. Jos 11:23; 12:7 (both D) 18:10 (JE; others, divisions of Isr., but v.) Ez 48:29. techn. term of organization of priests and Levites (late), 1 Ch 23:6; 24:1; 26:1, 12, 19 2 Ch 8:14(×2); 31:2(×2); 35:4, 10 Ne 11:36 + 26 times in Ch., + (of royal officials) 1 Ch 28:1.—סֶלַע הַמַּחְלְקוֹת n.pr. 1 S 23:28 was popularly connected with this √, = rock of divisions, where Saul and David parted from neighbourhood of each other (Dr) so Vrss Th al.; Bö Klo, where their forces lay divided from each other; orig. connex. was perhaps with II. חלק, smooth, slippery; Ges De W Ke al. expl. here as rock of escapes, but this meaning for חלק dubious.