MAHOL.The father of Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Chalcol, and Darda (1Ki_4:31), who are mentioned as famous for their wisdom, though surpassed in this respect by Solomon. Apparently, then, Mahol is a proper name, but it is also found in Psa_149:3; Psa_150:4 (EV [Note: English Version.] tr. [Note: translate or translation.] dance) amongst instruments of music, so that the four wise men mentioned above may really be described as sons of music, in which case their wisdom may have consisted chiefly in their skill in the composition of hymns.
T. A. Moxon.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909
Father of Ethan the Ezrahite,. Heman, Chalcol, and Darda (1Ki_4:31; 1Ch_2:6). Some interpret "sons of song" or rather "dance" (machol), dancing often accompanying hymns (Exo_15:20; 2Sa_6:14).
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
By Andrew Robert Fausset, co-Author of Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's 1888.
Ma'hol. (dancing). The father of the four men most famous for wisdom, next to Solomon himself. 1Ki_4:31; 1Ch_2:6.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
By Dr. William Smith.Published in 1863
mā?hol (מחול, māḥōl, ?dance?; compare בּני־מחול, benē-māḥōl, ?sons of dance?): The father of the 4 sages reputed next in wisdom to Solomon (1Ki_4:31). Their names were Ethan, Heman, Chalcol, Darda.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.
Mahol
(Heb. Machol', מָחוֹל, a sacred dance, as in Psalm 20:12, etc.; Sept. Μαχώλ; Josephus ᾿Ημαών, Ant. 8:2, 5), a person apparently named as the father of the famous wise men Ethan, Heman, Chalcol, and Darda (or at least of the last two), prior to the time of Solomon (1Ki_4:31); but if these be the same with those enumerated as sons of Zerah (1Ch_2:6), the word must be taken as elsewhere to denote simply their pursuit, as musical composers (see Keil's Comment. ad loc. Kings), an art with which dancing has ever been intimately connected. SEE ETHAN.
CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
press 1895.