Maacah was the daughter of Talmai, the king of Geshur. Many years previously, a man called Talmai was one of the descendants of Anek who lived in Hebron (Numbers 13:22). After Joshua’s conquest, he was driven from the town by Caleb and the men of Judah (Joshua 15:14; Judges 1:10). It is likely that some of his descendants remained in the south, near the Philistines (Joshua 13:2), and that these were the Geshurites whom David fought against during his time in exile (1 Samuel 27:8). Scripture also testifies to Geshurites who lived in the north, next to the Sea of Galilee. This is most likely the kingdom where the Talmai mentioned ruled. Their territory was part of the land given to Manasseh, Gad, and Reuben (Joshua 13:8–12). Sadly, the people of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites, but Geshur and Maacath dwell in the midst of Israel to this day
(Joshua 13:13). These northern
Geshurites would later ally with Aram and conquer Havoth-Jair, Kenath, and its villages, sixty towns
(1 Chronicles 2:23).
3 and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;