CINXE.COM

<!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: Abel-Beth-Maacah</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/a/abel-beth-maacah.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> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><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/1_kings/15-20.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/abel-beth-maacah.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> > Abel-Beth-Maacah</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/abelbethmaacah.htm" title="Abelbethmaacah">◄</a> Abel-Beth-Maacah <a href="/topical/a/a'bel-beth-ma'acah.htm" title="A'bel-Beth-Ma'acah">►</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="#isb" title="International Standard Bible Encyclopedia">ISBE</a> • <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>Abel-beth-maacah, also referred to simply as Abel or Abel-maim, is a significant city mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. It is located in the northern part of ancient Israel, near the border with Aram (modern-day Syria). The city is noted for its strategic importance and its involvement in several biblical narratives.<br><br><b>Biblical References:</b> <br>Abel-beth-maacah is mentioned in several passages in the Old Testament. One of the most notable references is found in <a href="/2_samuel/20-14.htm">2 Samuel 20:14-22</a>, where the city becomes the focal point of a rebellion led by Sheba, the son of Bichri. Sheba, a Benjamite, revolts against King David, and Joab, David's military commander, pursues him to Abel-beth-maacah. The city's inhabitants, led by a wise woman, negotiate with Joab to end the siege by delivering Sheba's head, thus saving the city from destruction.<br><br>Another reference to Abel-beth-maacah is found in <a href="/1_kings/15-20.htm">1 Kings 15:20</a> and <a href="/2_chronicles/16-4.htm">2 Chronicles 16:4</a>, where it is mentioned in the context of the military campaigns of Ben-hadad I, the king of Aram. Ben-hadad, at the request of King Asa of Judah, attacks the northern kingdom of Israel and captures several cities, including Abel-beth-maacah.<br><br><b>Geographical and Historical Context:</b> <br>Abel-beth-maacah is situated in the region of Upper Galilee, near the modern-day border between Israel and Lebanon. The city's location made it a key defensive and administrative center in the ancient Near East. Its proximity to the Aramean territories often placed it at the center of regional conflicts.<br><br>Archaeological excavations at the site, identified with the modern Tell Abil el-Qameh, have revealed significant remains from various periods, including the Bronze and Iron Ages. These findings provide insights into the city's historical significance and its role in the broader geopolitical landscape of the time.<br><br><b>Cultural and Theological Significance:</b> <br>The narrative of Abel-beth-maacah in the Bible highlights themes of wisdom, negotiation, and the preservation of life. The wise woman's intervention in <a href="/bsb/2_samuel/20.htm">2 Samuel 20</a> demonstrates the power of diplomacy and the value of community leadership in resolving conflicts. This account also underscores the importance of cities as centers of refuge and negotiation in ancient Israelite society.<br><br>The city's repeated mention in military contexts reflects the turbulent nature of the region during the biblical period. Abel-beth-maacah's strategic location made it a target for conquest and a site of political intrigue, illustrating the complex interplay of power and politics in the biblical narrative.<br><br><b>Related Entries:</b> <br>· Sheba son of Bichri <br>· Joab <br>· Ben-hadad I <br>· King Asa <br>· Aram (Syria) <br>· Upper Galilee <br><br><b>Quotations from the Berean Standard Bible :</b> <br><a href="/2_samuel/20-14.htm">2 Samuel 20:14-22</a>: "Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel-beth-maacah and through the entire region of the Berites, who gathered together and followed him. And Joab’s troops came and besieged Sheba in Abel-beth-maacah. They built a siege ramp against the outer rampart of the city, and it stood against the rampart. As all the troops with Joab were battering the wall to bring it down, a wise woman called out from the city, 'Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so I can speak with him.' When he had come near to her, the woman asked, 'Are you Joab?' 'I am,' he replied. 'Listen to the words of your servant,' she said. 'I am listening,' he answered. Then she said, 'In the past they used to say, "Seek counsel at Abel," and that is how disputes were settled. I am among the peaceful and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?' 'Far be it, far be it from me!' Joab declared, 'that I would swallow up or destroy! That is not the case. But a man named Sheba son of Bichri from the hill country of Ephraim has lifted up his hand against King David. Deliver him alone, and I will withdraw from the city.' 'Look,' the woman replied, 'his head will be thrown to you over the wall.' Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem."<a name="isb" id="isb"></a><div class="vheading2">International Standard Bible Encyclopedia</div><span class="encheading">ABEL-BETH-MAACAH</span><p>a'-bel-beth-ma'-a-ka ('abhel beth ma`akhah, "the meadow of the house of Maacah"): The name appears in this form in <a href="/1_kings/15-20.htm">1 Kings 15:20</a> and <a href="/2_kings/15-29.htm">2 Kings 15:29</a>. In <a href="/2_samuel/20-15.htm">2 Samuel 20:15</a> (Hebrew) it is Abel-beth-hammaacah (Maacah with the article). In 20:14 it appears as Beth-maacah, and in 20:14 and 18 as Abel.<br><br>In 2Sa it is spoken of as the city, far to the north, where Joab besieged Sheba, the son of Bichri. In 2 Kings it is mentioned, along with Ijon and other places, as a city in Naphtali captured by Tiglathpileser, king of Assyria. The capture appears also in the records of Tiglath-pileser. In 1 Kings it is mentioned with Ijon and Dan and "all the land of Naphtali" as being smitten by Benhadad of Damascus in the time of Baasha. In the account in Chronicles parallel to this last (<a href="/2_chronicles/16-4.htm">2 Chronicles 16:4</a>) the cities mentioned are Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim. Abel-maim is either another name for Abel-beth-maacah, or the name of another place in the same vicinity.<br><br>The prevailing identification of Abel-beth-maacah is with Abil, a few miles West of Dan, on a height overlooking the Jordan near its sources. The adjacent region is rich agriculturally, and the scenery and the water supply are especially fine. Abel-maim, "meadow of water," is not an inapt designation for it. Willis J. Beecher<p><a name="heb" id="heb"></a><div class="vheading2">Strong's Hebrew</div><a href="/hebrew/62.htm"><span class="l">62. Abel Beth-maakah -- a city in Northern Israel</span></a><br><b>...</b> a city in Northern Israel. Transliteration: Abel Beth-maakah Phonetic Spelling:<br> (aw-bale' bayth ma-a-kaw') Short Definition: <b>Abel</b>-<b>beth</b>-<b>maacah</b>. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/hebrew/62.htm</font><font color="#ff6600" size="-1"> - 6k</font><a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/maspero/history_of_egypt_chaldaea_syria_babylonia_and_assyria_v_7/chapter_iitiglath-pileser_iii_and_the.htm"><span class="l">Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire <b>...</b></span></a> <br>History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7. <. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm</font><p><a href="/library/maspero/history_of_egypt_chaldaea_syria_babylonia_and_assyria_v_6/chapter_iiithe_hebrews_and_the.htm"><span class="l">The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus</span></a> <br>History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6. <. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/a/abelbethmaacah.htm"><span class="l"><b>Abelbethmaacah</b></span></a><br><b>...</b> Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia <b>ABEL</b>-<b>BETH</b>-<b>MAACAH</b>. <b>...</b> Abel-maim is either another name<br> for <b>Abel</b>-<b>beth</b>-<b>maacah</b>, or the name of another place in the same vicinity. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/abelbethmaacah.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/abel-beth-maacah.htm"><span class="l"><b>Abel</b>-<b>beth</b>-<b>maacah</b> (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>Abel</b>-<b>beth</b>-<b>maacah</b>. <b>Abelbethmaacah</b>, <b>Abel</b>-<b>beth</b>-<b>maacah</b>. A'bel-Beth-Ma'acah . Int. <b>...</b> <br><b>Abelbethmaacah</b>, <b>Abel</b>-<b>beth</b>-<b>maacah</b>. A'bel-Beth-Ma'acah . Reference Bible. <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/abel-beth-maacah.htm - 8k</font><p><a href="/topical/i/ijon.htm"><span class="l">Ijon (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> It was captured along with Dan and <b>Abel</b>-<b>beth</b>-<b>maacah</b> (1 Kings 15:20 2 Chronicles<br> 16:4). It shared with these cities a similar fate at the hands of Tiglath <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/i/ijon.htm - 8k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/a'bel-beth-ma'acah.htm"><span class="l">A'bel-Beth-Ma'acah (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br>A'bel-Beth-Ma'acah. <b>Abel</b>-<b>beth</b>-<b>maacah</b>, A'bel-Beth-Ma'acah. Abelbethmaachah . <b>...</b><br> (See RSV). <b>Abel</b>-<b>beth</b>-<b>maacah</b>, A'bel-Beth-Ma'acah. Abelbethmaachah . <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/a'bel-beth-ma'acah.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/m/maacah.htm"><span class="l">Maacah (30 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> thus be hemmed in by Israel, which accounts for `Geshur and Maacath dwell in the<br> midst of Israel" (Joshua 13:13).It is possible that <b>Abel</b>-<b>beth</b>-<b>maacah</b> may have <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/m/maacah.htm - 20k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/abel.htm"><span class="l">Abel (22 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> of a city concerned in the rebellion of Sheba (2 Samuel 20:14; compare 1 Samuel<br> 6:18), though it is there probably an abridgment of the name <b>Abel</b>-<b>beth</b>-<b>maacah</b>. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/abel.htm - 22k</font><p><a href="/topical/j/janoah.htm"><span class="l">Janoah (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> It is named with <b>Abel</b>-<b>beth</b>-<b>maacah</b> and Kedesh (2 Kings 15:29). It may be identical<br> with Yanuch, a village about 6 miles East of Tyre. W. Ewing. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/j/janoah.htm - 8k</font><p><a href="/topical/n/naph'tali.htm"><span class="l">Naph'tali (47 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against<br> the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and <b>Abel</b>-<b>beth</b>-<b>maacah</b>, and all <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/n/naph'tali.htm - 18k</font><p><a href="/topical/p/pekah.htm"><span class="l">Pekah (11 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Cities particularly mentioned are Ijon (now `Ayun), <b>Abel</b>-<b>beth</b>-<b>maacah</b> (now `Abi),<br> Janoah (now Yanun), Kedesh (now Kados) and Hazor (now Hadireh). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/p/pekah.htm - 19k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><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="https://www.gotquestions.org/King-Pekah.html">Who was King Pekah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/beheadings-in-the-Bible.html">Are there beheadings recorded in the Bible? | 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">Abel-beth-maacah (2 Occurrences)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_kings/15-20.htm">1 Kings 15:20</a></span><br />And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and <span class="boldtext">Abel-beth-maacah</span>, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. <br /><span class="source">(ASV BBE JPS NAS)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/2_kings/15-29.htm">2 Kings 15:29</a></span><br />In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and <span class="boldtext">Abel-beth-maacah</span>, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria. <br /><span class="source">(ASV BBE JPS NAS)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/a/abel-beth-maacah.htm">Abel-Beth-Maacah</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abel-beth-maacah.htm">Abel-beth-maacah (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abelbethmaachah.htm">Abelbethmaachah (2 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/a/abelbethmaacah.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Abelbethmaacah"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Abelbethmaacah" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/a/a'bel-beth-ma'acah.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="A'bel-Beth-Ma'acah"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="A'bel-Beth-Ma'acah" /></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>