Calcol
One of the wise men in Israel
Also known as: Calcol, Chalcol
Calcol (also spelled Calcol or Chalcol) was one of the famous wise men mentioned in connection with King Solomon's wisdom. He was a son of Mahol (or, according to 1 Chronicles, a descendant of Zerah from the tribe of Judah). His wisdom was used as a benchmark to highlight how superior Solomon's wisdom was.
Family
Key events
Mentioned as a wise man in comparison with Solomon
Calcol is mentioned as one of the wise men whose wisdom was surpassed by King Solomon's wisdom. Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.
Mentioned as a son of Zerah in Judah's genealogy
In 1 Chronicles, Calcol (Calcol) is listed among the sons of Zerah, a descendant of Judah, along with Simri, Ethan, Heman, and Darda.
Solomon's wisdom surpasses all
The context in which Calcol is mentioned shows that Solomon was given exceptional wisdom by God, so that his fame spread to all the surrounding nations.
Calcol as part of a wisdom tradition in Israel
Calcol belonged to a group of wise men who were evidently well known in ancient Israel. Their wisdom was recognized enough to be used as a basis for comparison with Solomon's greatness.