◄ 64. Abel Keramim ►
Lexical Summary
Abel Keramim: Abel of the Vineyards

Original Word: אָבֵל כְּרָמִים
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Abel Kramiym
Pronunciation: ah-VEL keh-rah-MEEM
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-bale' ker-aw-meem')
KJV: plain of the vineyards
NASB: Abel-keramim
Word Origin: [from H58 (אָבֵל - Mourning) and the plural of H3754 (כֶּרֶם - vineyard)]

1. meadow of vineyards
2. Abel-Keramim, a place in Israel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
plain of the vineyards

From 'abel and the plural of kerem; meadow of vineyards; Abel-Keramim, a place in Palestine -- plain of the vineyards.

see HEBREW 'abel

see HEBREW kerem

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from abel and the pl. of kerem
Definition
a place in Ammon
NASB Translation
Abel-keramim (1).

Topical Lexicon
Geographical Setting and Meaning

Abel Keramim is named once in Scripture as the easternmost limit of Jephthah’s decisive victory over the Ammonites (Judges 11:33). The compound name combines the imagery of fertile meadowland with cultivated vineyards, picturing a place of settled prosperity near the end of the Transjordan campaign. Most scholars locate it east of the Jordan River, probably in the region later known as Gilead, somewhere between Aroer on the Arnon Gorge and the plains beyond Minnith. The topography implies a stretch of arable ground where viticulture thrived, demonstrating that the area Israel conquered was neither barren nor insignificant but agriculturally valuable.

Historical Context

The single reference occurs in the account of Jephthah, the Gileadite judge, who led Israel against Ammon after lengthy negotiations failed. His route of victory is traced from Aroer, through twenty cities, to Minnith, and finally to Abel Keramim. By specifying these boundaries the narrator highlights both the breadth of the triumph and the reversal of Ammonite aggression. In Iron Age terms, control of productive vineyard territory signified economic as well as military dominance. Thus, Abel Keramim stands as a geographical marker proclaiming that the Lord granted Israel full relief from Ammonite oppression.

Theological Significance

1. Covenant Faithfulness: Jephthah’s victory, culminating at Abel Keramim, fulfills the promise in Deuteronomy 20:1 that the Lord fights for His people when they face enemies stronger than themselves.
2. Land and Rest: The conquest of cultivated land illustrates Numbers 13:23–24 where fruitfulness serves as a token of covenant blessing. Securing vineyards east of the Jordan anticipates the permanent inheritance west of the river and underlines God’s intent to provide rest (Joshua 21:44).
3. Judgment and Mercy: Jephthah’s deliverance prefigures later deliverance narratives—Gideon, David, and ultimately the Messiah—showing God’s pattern of raising an unlikely leader to rescue Israel, reiterating Romans 15:4, “For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction.”

Practical and Ministry Applications

• Spiritual Boundaries: Just as Jephthah pressed the enemy back until there was no Ammonite foothold left, believers are to resist sin until every stronghold is removed (2 Corinthians 10:4–5).
• Fruitful Victory: The “meadow of vineyards” prompts reflection on John 15:5, where abiding in Christ brings lasting fruit. Triumph over the enemy is not only defensive but results in productive service.
• Stewardship of Blessing: Abel Keramim reminds us that liberation leads to responsibility. Once the land is secure, Israel must cultivate it in obedience. Similarly, freedom in Christ calls for faithful stewardship of time, talents, and treasure (1 Peter 4:10).

Intertextual Reflections

While Abel Keramim itself is not mentioned elsewhere, its thematic links resonate throughout Scripture:
• Psalm 80:8–11 depicts Israel as a transplanted vine filling the land, echoing the notion of vineyards symbolizing blessing.
• Song of Solomon 8:12 portrays personal responsibility for one’s vineyard, paralleling national duty after conquest.
• Isaiah 5:1–7 uses vineyard imagery to warn against complacency, urging readers to heed the lessons implicit in places like Abel Keramim.

Archaeological and Cultural Notes

Excavations east of the Jordan have unearthed Iron Age winepresses and storage jars, confirming the agricultural plausibility of a site renowned for vineyards. Though Abel Keramim has not been identified conclusively, candidate tells within the Wadi Zerqa and the Madaba Plains preserve terraced hillsides ideal for grape cultivation. The historical probability of viticulture supports the biblical description and provides a tangible backdrop for the narrative.

Christological Foreshadowing

Jephthah’s victory climaxing at a vineyard plain anticipates the greater victory of Christ, who in Gethsemane—another place associated with cultivated plants—began the decisive defeat of humanity’s enemy. As Jephthah’s campaign ended Ammonite oppression, Christ’s work secures eternal freedom, and the imagery of fruitful fields is fulfilled in the worldwide harvest of the Gospel (Matthew 9:37–38).

Summary

Abel Keramim, though mentioned only once, functions as a potent symbol of God-given victory, covenant blessing, and fruitful peace. Located at the outer reach of Jephthah’s conquest, it encapsulates the Lord’s commitment to turn threatened inheritance into flourishing abundance. Its enduring lesson urges believers to press on until the entire field of their lives yields fruit to the glory of God.

Links
Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts
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