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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: Abelshittim</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/a/abelshittim.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/numbers/33-49.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/a/abelshittim.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> > Abelshittim</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/a/abel's_offering.htm" title="Abel's Offering">◄</a> Abelshittim <a href="/topical/a/abel-shittim.htm" title="Abel-Shittim">►</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="#smi" title="Smith's Bible Dictionary">Smith's</a> • <a href="#amt" title="American Tract Society Bible Dictionary">ATS</a> • <a href="#isb" title="International Standard Bible Encyclopedia">ISBE</a> • <a href="#eas" title="Easton's Bible Dictionary">Easton's</a> • <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</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>Etymology and Meaning:</b> <br>The name "Abelshittim" is derived from two Hebrew words: "Abel," meaning "meadow" or "plain," and "Shittim," referring to the acacia trees that were abundant in the area. Thus, Abelshittim can be translated as "Meadow of the Acacias."<br><br><b>Biblical References:</b> <br>Abelshittim is mentioned in the Old Testament as a significant location during the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land. It is primarily noted in the Book of Numbers and the Book of Joshua.<br><br>1. <b><a href="/numbers/33-49.htm">Numbers 33:49</a> :</b> "They camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab." This verse situates Abelshittim as a camping ground for the Israelites on the plains of Moab, near the Jordan River, as they prepared to enter Canaan.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/numbers/25.htm">Numbers 25:1</a> :</b> "While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab." This passage highlights a significant event at Abelshittim, where the Israelites fell into sin by engaging in idolatry and immorality with the Moabites, leading to a divine plague.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/joshua/2.htm">Joshua 2:1</a> :</b> "Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, 'Go, look over the land, especially Jericho.' So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there." Abelshittim served as the launching point for the spies sent by Joshua to scout the land of Canaan, particularly Jericho.<br><br><b>Historical and Geographical Context:</b> <br>Abelshittim is located in the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, opposite Jericho. It served as the final encampment of the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan. The area was characterized by its acacia trees, which were significant in the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings.<br><br><b>Cultural and Theological Significance:</b> <br>Abelshittim holds cultural and theological importance as the site of both failure and preparation. The events at Abelshittim underscore the Israelites' susceptibility to external influences and the consequences of disobedience to God's commands. At the same time, it was from Abelshittim that the Israelites took decisive steps toward fulfilling God's promise of entering the Promised Land.<br><br><b>Related Entries:</b> <br>· <b>Shittim:</b> Often used interchangeably with Abelshittim, Shittim refers to the broader region or area where the events took place.<br>· <b>Moab:</b> The region where Abelshittim is located, east of the Dead Sea and the Jordan River.<br>· <b>Acacia:</b> The type of tree prevalent in the area, significant for its use in the construction of sacred objects in the Israelite tradition.<a name="smi" id="smi"></a><div class="vheading2">Smith's Bible Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Abelshittim</span><p>(<i>the meadow of the acacias</i>), in the "plains" of Moab, on the low level of the Jordan valley, opposite Jericho. The last resting-place of Israel before crossing the Jordan. (<a href="/numbers/33-49.htm">Numbers 33:49</a>) The place is most frequently mentioned by its shorter name of Shittim. See <a href="../s/shittah.htm">SHITTAH TREE, SHITTIM</a>, <a href="../s/shittim.htm">SHITTIM</a>.<a name="amt" id="amt"></a><div class="vheading2">ATS Bible Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Abelshittim</span><p>In the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan, and near Mount Peor. It was one of the last encampments of Israel before the death of Moses, <a href="/numbers/33-49.htm">Numbers 33:49</a>; called also Shittim, <a href="/joshua/2-1.htm">Joshua 2:1</a>. Here the Israelites were enticed by the women of Moab and Midian into uncleanness and the idolatry of Baal-peor, and 24,000 died of the plague, <a href="/context/numbers/25-1.htm">Numbers 25:1</a> 18. </p><a name="eas" id="eas"></a><div class="vheading2">Easton's Bible Dictionary</div>Meadow of the acacias, frequently called simply "Shittim" (<a href="/numbers/25-1.htm">Numbers 25:1</a>; <a href="/joshua/2-1.htm">Joshua 2:1</a>; <a href="/micah/6-5.htm">Micah 6:5</a>), a place on the east of Jordan, in the plain of Moab, nearly opposite Jericho. It was the forty-second encampment of the Israelites, their last resting-place before they crossed the Jordan (<a href="/numbers/33-49.htm">Numbers 33:49</a>; <a href="/numbers/22-1.htm">22:1</a>; <a href="/numbers/26-3.htm">26:3</a>; <a href="/numbers/31-12.htm">31:12</a>; Comp. <a href="/numbers/25-1.htm">25:1</a>; <a href="/numbers/31-16.htm">31:16</a>). <a name="isb" id="isb"></a><div class="vheading2">International Standard Bible Encyclopedia</div><span class="encheading">ABEL-SHITTIM</span><p>a'-bel-shit'-tim ('abhel ha-shiTTim, "the meadow of the Acacias"): The name appears only in <a href="/numbers/33-49.htm">Numbers 33:49</a>; but the name Shittim is used to denote the same locality (<a href="/numbers/25-1.htm">Numbers 25:1</a> <a href="/joshua/2-1.htm">Joshua 2:1</a>; <a href="/joshua/3-1.htm">Joshua 3:1</a> <a href="/micah/6-5.htm">Micah 6:5</a>). The name always has the article, and the best expression of it in English would be "the Acacias." `The valley of the Acacias' (<a href="/joel/3-18.htm">Joel 3:18</a> (4:18)) is, apparently, a different locality.<br><br>For many weeks before crossing the Jordan, Israel was encamped in the vicinity of the Jordan valley, North of the Dead Sea, East of the river. The notices in the Bible, supplemented by those in Josephus and Eusebius and Jerome, indicate that the camping region was many miles in extent, the southern limit being Beth-jeshimoth, toward the Dead Sea, while Abel of the Acacias was the northern limit and the headquarters. The headquarters are often spoken of as East of the Jordan at Jericho (e.g. <a href="/numbers/22-1.htm">Numbers 22:1</a>; <a href="/numbers/26-3.htm">Numbers 26:3, 63</a>). During the stay there occurred the Balaam incident (<a href="/nasb/numbers/22.htm">Numbers 22-24</a>), and the harlotry with Moab and Midian (<a href="/nasb/numbers/25.htm">Numbers 25</a>) and the war with Midian (<a href="/nasb/numbers/31.htm">Numbers 31</a>), in both of which Phinehas distinguished himself. It was from the Acacias that Joshua sent out the spies, and that Israel afterward moved down to the river for the crossing. Micah aptly calls upon Yahweh's people to remember all that happened to them from the time when they reached the Acacias to the time when Yahweh had brought them safely across the river to Gilgal.<br><br>Josephus is correct in saying that Abel of the Acacias is the place from which the Deuteronomic law purports to have been given. In his time the name survived as Abila, a not very important town situated there. He says that it was "sixty furlongs from Abila to the Jordan," that is a little more than seven English miles (Ant., IV, viii, 1 and V, i, 1; BJ, IV, vii, 6). There seems to be a consensus for locating the site at Kefrein, near where the wady of that name comes down into the Jordan valley.<br><br>Willis J. Beecher<p><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/a/abelshittim.htm"><span class="l"><b>Abelshittim</b> (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Multi-Version Concordance <b>Abelshittim</b> (1 Occurrence). Numbers 33:49 And they pitched<br> by Jordan, from Bethjesimoth even unto <b>Abelshittim</b> in the plains of Moab. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/abelshittim.htm - 10k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/abel-shittim.htm"><span class="l">Abel-shittim (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br>Abel-shittim. <b>Abelshittim</b>, Abel-shittim. Abez . Easton's Bible Dictionary <b>...</b> (ASV<br> BBE DBY JPS WBS YLT NAS RSV). <b>Abelshittim</b>, Abel-shittim. Abez . <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/abel-shittim.htm - 10k</font><p><a href="/topical/b/bethjesimoth.htm"><span class="l">Bethjesimoth (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Bethjesimoth (1 Occurrence). Numbers 33:49 And they pitched by Jordan, from<br> Bethjesimoth even unto <b>Abelshittim</b> in the plains of Moab. (KJV). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/b/bethjesimoth.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/abel's.htm"><span class="l">Abel's (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/abel's.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/p/pitched.htm"><span class="l">Pitched (101 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Jericho. (KJV JPS). Numbers 33:49 And they pitched by Jordan, from Bethjesimoth<br> even unto <b>Abelshittim</b> in the plains of Moab. (KJV JPS). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/p/pitched.htm - 33k</font><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><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">Abelshittim (1 Occurrence)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/numbers/33-49.htm">Numbers 33:49</a></span><br />And they pitched by Jordan, from Bethjesimoth even unto <span class="boldtext">Abelshittim</span> in the plains of Moab.<br /><span class="source">(KJV)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/a/abelshittim.htm">Abelshittim</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abel-shittim.htm">Abel-shittim (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/beth-jeshimoth.htm">Beth-jeshimoth (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/shittim.htm">Shittim (34 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/bethjeshimoth.htm">Bethjeshimoth (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/jeshimoth.htm">Jeshimoth (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/lowlands.htm">Lowlands (25 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/meadow.htm">Meadow (8 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/plains.htm">Plains (31 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/planting.htm">Planting (57 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/beth-jes'himoth.htm">Beth-jes'himoth (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/bethjesimoth.htm">Bethjesimoth (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/beth.htm">Beth (115 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abez.htm">Abez (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abel's.htm">Abel's (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/pitched.htm">Pitched (101 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abel.htm">Abel (22 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/encamped.htm">Encamped (115 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/camped.htm">Camped (100 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/encamp.htm">Encamp (108 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/moab.htm">Moab (162 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/jordan.htm">Jordan (188 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/palestine.htm">Palestine (1 Occurrence)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/a/abel's_offering.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Abel's Offering"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Abel's Offering" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/a/abel-shittim.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Abel-Shittim"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Abel-Shittim" /></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'; 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