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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Meholah</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/m/meholah.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/judges/7-22.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/m/meholah.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Meholah</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/naves/m/mehir--son_of_chelub.htm" title="Mehir: Son of Chelub">◄</a> Meholah <a href="/topical/m/meholath.htm" title="Meholath">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#heb" title="Strong's Hebrew Concordance">Hebrew</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div><b>Overview:</b> <br>Meholah, often referred to as Abel-meholah, is a location mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. It is primarily recognized as the birthplace of the prophet Elisha and is associated with the tribe of Issachar. The name "Meholah" is thought to mean "meadow of dancing" or "field of rejoicing," reflecting a place of fertility and joy.<br><br><b>Biblical References:</b> <br>Meholah is first mentioned in the context of Gideon's battle against the Midianites. In <a href="/judges/7-22.htm">Judges 7:22</a> , it is recorded: "When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD set the sword of one man against another throughout the camp, and the army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath." This passage highlights Meholah's geographical significance during the period of the Judges.<br><br>The most notable reference to Meholah is its connection to the prophet Elisha. In <a href="/1_kings/19-16.htm">1 Kings 19:16</a> , God instructs the prophet Elijah: "You are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place." This indicates that Elisha hailed from this region, marking it as a place of prophetic importance.<br><br><b>Geographical Context:</b> <br>Meholah is believed to have been located in the Jordan Valley, near the Jordan River. Its exact location is not definitively known, but it is generally thought to be in the vicinity of the modern-day Beit She'an Valley. The fertile land of the area would have supported agriculture, aligning with the meaning of its name.<br><br><b>Historical and Cultural Significance:</b> <br>In the biblical narrative, Meholah serves as a backdrop for significant events, particularly in the accounts of Gideon and Elisha. The mention of Meholah in the context of Gideon's victory over the Midianites underscores its strategic location during times of conflict. Furthermore, as the home of Elisha, Meholah is linked to the prophetic tradition in Israel, highlighting its spiritual significance.<br><br>Elisha's association with Meholah is particularly noteworthy. As a prophet, Elisha performed numerous miracles and played a crucial role in the spiritual life of Israel. His roots in Meholah suggest that this region was not only agriculturally prosperous but also spiritually fertile, producing one of Israel's most influential prophets.<br><br><b>Theological Implications:</b> <br>The references to Meholah in the Bible emphasize God's providence and the fulfillment of His plans through seemingly ordinary places and people. The choice of Elisha from Meholah as a successor to Elijah illustrates God's sovereign selection and the continuation of His prophetic work in Israel. Meholah's mention in the context of Gideon's victory also serves as a reminder of God's deliverance and the importance of faith and obedience in achieving divine purposes.<br><br><b>Conclusion:</b> <br>While Meholah may not be as prominent as other biblical locations, its role in the narratives of Gideon and Elisha highlights its importance in Israel's history. As a place of both military and prophetic significance, Meholah stands as a testament to God's active involvement in the lives of His people and His ability to use any location for His divine purposes.<a name="heb" id="heb"></a><div class="vheading2">Strong's Hebrew</div><a href="/hebrew/4259.htm"><span class="l">4259. Mecholathi -- inhab. of Abel-<b>meholah</b></span></a><br><b>...</b> 4258, 4259. Mecholathi. 4260 . inhab. of Abel-<b>meholah</b>. Transliteration: Mecholathi<br> Phonetic Spelling: (mekh-o-law-thee') Short Definition: Meholathite. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/hebrew/4259.htm</font><font color="#ff6600" size="-1"> - 6k</font><p> <a href="/hebrew/65.htm"><span class="l">65. Abel Mecholah -- Elisha's birthplace in Palestine</span></a><br><b>...</b> Elisha's birthplace in Palestine. Transliteration: Abel Mecholah Phonetic Spelling:<br> (aw-bale' mekh-o-law') Short Definition: Abel-<b>meholah</b>. <b>...</b> Abel-<b>meholah</b>. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/hebrew/65.htm</font><font color="#ff6600" size="-1"> - 6k</font><a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_f/a_battle_without_a_sword.htm"><span class="l">A Battle Without a Sword</span></a> <br><b>...</b> man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled<br> to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel- <b>meholah</b>, unto Tabbath.23 <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a battle without a sword.htm</font><p><a href="/library/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_f/elijahs_weakness_and_its_cube.htm"><span class="l">Elijah's Weakness, and Its Cube</span></a> <br><b>...</b> And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha<br> the son of Shaphat of Abel-<b>meholah</b> shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/elijahs weakness and its cube.htm</font><p><a href="/library/white/the_story_of_prophets_and_kings/chapter_13_what_doest_thou.htm"><span class="l">"What Doest Thou Here?"</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Hazael to be king over Syria: and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be<br> king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-<b>meholah</b> shalt thou <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 13 what doest thou.htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/m/meholah.htm"><span class="l"><b>Meholah</b> (4 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Multi-Version Concordance <b>Meholah</b> (4 Occurrences). Judges 7:22 They blew<br> the three hundred trumpets, and Yahweh set every man's sword <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/m/meholah.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/abel-meholah.htm"><span class="l">Abel-<b>meholah</b> (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br>Abel-<b>meholah</b>. Abelmeholah, Abel-<b>meholah</b>. A'bel-Meho'lah . Easton's Bible<br> Dictionary <b>...</b> Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ABEL-<b>MEHOLAH</b>. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/abel-meholah.htm - 10k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/abelmeholah.htm"><span class="l">Abelmeholah (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ABEL-<b>MEHOLAH</b>. a'-bel-me-ho'-lah ('abhel <b>meholah</b>,<br> "meadow of dancing"): The residence of Elisha the prophet (1 Kings 19:16). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/abelmeholah.htm - 9k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/a'bel-meho'lah.htm"><span class="l">A'bel-Meho'lah (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br>A'bel-Meho'lah. Abel-<b>meholah</b>, A'bel-Meho'lah. Abelmizraim . Multi-Version<br> Concordance <b>...</b> (See RSV). Abel-<b>meholah</b>, A'bel-Meho'lah. Abelmizraim . Reference <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/a'bel-meho'lah.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/t/tabbath.htm"><span class="l">Tabbath (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> tab'-ath (Tabbath; Codex Vaticanus Tabath; Gabath): A place named after Abel-<b>meholah</b><br> in the account of the Midianite flight before Gideon (Judges 7:23). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/t/tabbath.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/abel.htm"><span class="l">Abel (22 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> sword against his fellow, and against all the army; and the army fled as far as<br> Beth Shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel <b>Meholah</b>, by Tabbath. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/abel.htm - 22k</font><p><a href="/topical/e/elisha.htm"><span class="l">Elisha (70 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Easton's Bible Dictionary God his salvation, the son of Shaphat of Abel-<b>meholah</b>,<br> who became the attendant and disciple of Elijah (1 Kings 19:16-19). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/e/elisha.htm - 61k</font><p><a href="/topical/b/beth.htm"><span class="l">Beth (115 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> sword against his fellow, and against all the army; and the army fled as far as<br> Beth Shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel <b>Meholah</b>, by Tabbath. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/b/beth.htm - 40k</font><p><a href="/topical/z/zererah.htm"><span class="l">Zererah (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> sword against his fellow, and against all the army; and the army fled as far as<br> Beth Shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel <b>Meholah</b>, by Tabbath. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/z/zererah.htm - 7k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/King-Jehu.html">Who was King Jehu in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/tribe-of-Naphtali.html">What can we learn from the tribe of Naphtali? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Meholah (4 Occurrences)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/judges/7-22.htm">Judges 7:22</a></span><br />They blew the three hundred trumpets, and Yahweh set every man's sword against his fellow, and against all the army; and the army fled as far as Beth Shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel <span class="boldtext">Meholah</span>, by Tabbath.<br /><span class="source">(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_samuel/18-19.htm">1 Samuel 18:19</a></span><br />But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.<br /><span class="source">(See NIV)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_kings/4-12.htm">1 Kings 4:12</a></span><br />Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth Shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel <span class="boldtext">Meholah</span>, as far as beyond Jokmeam;<br /><span class="source">(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_kings/19-16.htm">1 Kings 19:16</a></span><br />You shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel <span class="boldtext">Meholah</span> to be prophet in your place. <br /><span class="source">(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/m/meholah.htm">Meholah</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/meholathite.htm">Meholathite (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/meholah.htm">Meholah (4 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/naves/m/mehir--son_of_chelub.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Mehir: Son of Chelub"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Mehir: Son of Chelub" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/m/meholath.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Meholath"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Meholath" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>