And his sister Hammolecheth bore Ishhod, Abi-ezer, and Mahlah: The referent for the pronoun his is not clear since the previous verse mentions five men. But since Gilead is in focus in verse 17, Hammolecheth was probably the sister of Gilead. Some translations make this clear by rendering his sister as “Gilead’s sister” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Braun), which makes her the daughter of Machir and granddaughter of Manasseh. As noted in the comments on verse 15, An American Translation states in that verse that Hammolecheth was Gilead’s sister. However, as noted also in verse 15, Moffatt says Hammolecheth was Machir’s sister (so also New Living Translation and New Century Version, which read “Makir’s sister Hammoleketh” in verse 17). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has a footnote stating that it is not clear whose sister she was since she is not mentioned elsewhere in the Old Testament. Neither are her three sons.
The Hebrew name Hammolecheth means “the one who reigns.” The Vulgate says Regina (“queen”), which is a translation of the meaning of the name rather than a transliteration as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. Complete Jewish Bible has both the name and its meaning, saying “Hammolekhet [the governor].” It seems better to take this as a proper name rather than as a title. However, if Hammolecheth is a title, then this probably indicates that she was a prominent person with some authority in the clan of Manasseh. The Septuagint gives her name as “Malecheth”; the translator apparently considered the initial ha as the Hebrew definite article. New American Bible and Einheitsübersetzung similarly render this name “Molecheth.”
Ishhod and Abi-ezer are both male names. In Num 26.30 the second name is given as “Iezer.” Abi-ezer means “father of Iezer.”
Mahlah was the name of one of Zelophedad’s daughters (Num 26.33). So Mahlah may be a daughter, in which case the Good News Translation rendering “three sons” is incorrect. In view of the uncertainty “three children” may be better.
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .