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Abel-beth-maacah

אָבֵל בֵּית מַעֲכָה · a.vel bet-ma.a.khah · H0062אָבֵל · a.vel · H0059H1 other spelling6 mentions in 4 books, most in 2 Samuel (3)

Where it is

Beth-rehobBeth-rehobDanIjonIjonHoremHoremKedeshKedeshMigdal-elMigdal-elAbel-beth-maacahabout 53 km across

33.27° N, 35.58° E

Coordinates and map: OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding · CC BY 4.0 · drawn without map tiles

Mentioned most in

2 Samuel · 31 Kings · 12 Kings · 12 Chronicles · 1
Counted from 6 references · STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

About this place

Abel-beth-maacah, also known as Abel-maim, was a fortified city in northern Israel, located near the city of Dan. It was besieged by Joab, King David's commander, when Sheba son of Bikri took refuge there after rebelling against David (2Sa.20.14-15). The city was known for its wisdom, as seen in the saying, "They used to say in former times, 'Let them inquire at Abel'" (2Sa.20.18). During the reign of King Baasha of Israel, Abel-beth-maacah was captured by Ben-Hadad I of Syria, who was allied with King Asa of Judah (1Ki.15.20; 2Ch.16.4). Later, in the reign of Pekah of Israel, the city was captured by King Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria (2Ki.15.29).

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

6 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)

2 Samuel 3 mentions

2 Samuel 20:14He went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, to Beth Maacah, and all the Berites. They were gathered together, and went also after him.2 Samuel 20:15They came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maacah, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to…2 Samuel 20:18Then she spoke, saying, “They used to say in old times, ‘They shall surely ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter.

1 Kings 1 mention

1 Kings 15:20Ben Hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Beth Maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of…

2 Kings 1 mention

2 Kings 15:29In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he…

2 Chronicles 1 mention

2 Chronicles 16:4Ben Hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they struck Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.

What the dictionary says

a'-bel-beth-ma'-a-ka ('abhel beth ma`akhah, "the meadow of the house of Maacah"): The name appears in this form in 1Ki 15:20 and 2Ki 15:29.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)
Read the article →

Sources