Bible Encyclopedias
Talmai

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Talmay', תִּלְמִי, furrowed [Gesenius ] or bold [Fuirst, who comp. Θολομαῖος, Josephus, A nt. 14:8,1; Βαρ - θολομαῖος, Matthew 10:3]; Sept. Θολμαί, Θολμί, Θελαμείν, Θολομαϊ v, etc.; Vulg. Tholmai or Tholomai'), the name of two men.

1. Last named of the three gigantic" sons of Anak" in Hebron (Numbers 13:22), who were expelled by Ca leb (Joshua 15:14) and slain by the Judahites (Judges 1, 10). B.C. 1618. It has been thought that these people are depicted on the Egyptian monuments as a tall, light complexioned race. In the hieroglyphic inscription they are named Tanmahu, which may be the Egyptian rendering of the Hebrew word Talmai, allowing for the interchange of the liquid I for n, so constant in all languages. The figure is from a picture on a wall of the tomb of Aimenepthah I, supposed to represent a man of the tribe of Talmai, one of the sons of Anak (Burton, Excerpta Hieroiqsphica).

2. Son of Ammihud and king of Geshur (2 Samuel 3, 3; 2 Samuel 13:37; 1 Chronicles 3:2). B.C. 1045. His daughter Maachah was one of the wives of David and mother of Absalom. He was probably a petty chieftain dependent on David, and his wild retreat in Bashan afforded a shelter to his grandson after the assassination of Amnon. (See DAVID).