Etymology and Meaning:
Abelbethmaachah, sometimes spelled Abel-beth-maachah, is a compound name in Hebrew, which can be broken down into "Abel," meaning "meadow" or "stream," and "Beth-maachah," which refers to the "house of Maachah." The name suggests a location associated with the region or people of Maachah.

Biblical References:
Abelbethmaachah is mentioned in several passages in the Old Testament, primarily in the context of military campaigns and political events.

1. 2 Samuel 20:14-15 :
"Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abelbethmaachah and through the entire region of the Berites, who gathered together and followed him. And Joab’s troops came and besieged Sheba in Abelbethmaachah. They built a siege ramp against the city, and it stood against the outer rampart. As all the troops with Joab were battering the wall to bring it down..."

In this passage, Abelbethmaachah is the site where Sheba, son of Bichri, sought refuge during his rebellion against King David. Joab, David's military commander, pursued Sheba to this city and laid siege to it.

2. 1 Kings 15:20 :
"So Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abelbethmaachah, and all Chinnereth, as far as Naphtali."

Here, Abelbethmaachah is listed among the cities attacked by Ben-hadad of Aram at the request of King Asa of Judah. This military action was part of Asa's strategy to weaken the northern kingdom of Israel.

3. 2 Kings 15:29 :
"In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abelbethmaachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee—all the land of Naphtali—and he took the people to Assyria."

Abelbethmaachah is again mentioned as one of the cities captured by Tiglath-pileser III, the king of Assyria, during his campaign against the northern kingdom of Israel. This event marked a significant moment in the Assyrian conquest and the eventual downfall of Israel.

Geographical Location:
Abelbethmaachah is believed to have been located in the northern part of ancient Israel, near the border with Aram (modern-day Syria). It is often associated with the region of Naphtali. The exact location is uncertain, but it is generally thought to be near the modern site of Tell Abil el-Qameh, close to the Hula Valley in northern Israel.

Historical and Archaeological Significance:
The city of Abelbethmaachah played a strategic role due to its location near the northern borders of Israel. Its repeated mention in military contexts highlights its importance as a fortified city and a target for invading armies. Archaeological excavations in the region have sought to uncover more about its history and significance during the biblical period.

Cultural and Theological Insights:
Abelbethmaachah's role in biblical narratives underscores themes of political intrigue, rebellion, and the shifting alliances and conflicts that characterized the history of ancient Israel and its neighbors. The city's repeated involvement in military campaigns reflects the turbulent nature of the region during the biblical era.Abelbethmaachah

(meadow of the house of oppression), a town of some importance, (2 Samuel 20:15) in the extreme north of Palestine, which fell an early prey to the invading kings of Syria, (1 Kings 15:20) and Assyria. (2 Kings 15:29)

Abelbethmaachah

Meadow of the house of Maachah; a town in the tribe of Naphtali, north of lake Merom. It was besieged in the rebellion of Sheba, 2 Samuel 20:13-22; eighty years afterwards it was taken by Ben- hadad, 1 Kings 15:20, and again, after 200 years, by Tiglathpileser, 2 Kings 15:29. It is called Abelmaim in 2Ch 16...4. Compare 1 Kings 15:20. Also simply Abel, 2 Samuel 20:18.

Meadow of the house of Maachah, a city in the north of Palestine, in the neighbourhood of Dan and Ijon, in the tribe of Naphtali. It was a place of considerable strength and importance. It is called a "mother in Israel", i.e., a metropolis (2 Samuel 20:19). It was besieged by Joab (2 Samuel 20:14), by Benhadad (1 Kings 15:20), and by Tiglath-pileser (2 Kings 15:29) about B.C. 734. It is elsewhere called Abel-maim, meadow of the waters, (2 Chronicles 16:4). Its site is occupied by the modern Abil or Abil-el-kamh, on a rising ground to the east of the brook Derdarah, which flows through the plain of Huleh into the Jordan, about 6 miles to the west-north-west of Dan. Abelbethmaachah (2 Occurrences)
... west of Dan. Multi-Version Concordance Abelbethmaachah (2 Occurrences).
1 Kings 15:20 So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent ...
/a/abelbethmaachah.htm - 8k

Abel-beth-maachah (2 Occurrences)
Abel-beth-maachah. Abelbethmaachah, Abel-beth-maachah. Abelcheramim . ... (DBY WBS
YLT). Abelbethmaachah, Abel-beth-maachah. Abelcheramim . Reference Bible
/a/abel-beth-maachah.htm - 8k

Tiglathpileser (3 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 15:29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria,
and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor ...
/t/tiglathpileser.htm - 11k

Cinneroth (4 Occurrences)
... hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against
the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all ...
/c/cinneroth.htm - 8k

A'bel-Beth-Ma'acah (2 Occurrences)
A'bel-Beth-Ma'acah. Abel-beth-maacah, A'bel-Beth-Ma'acah. Abelbethmaachah . ...
(See RSV). Abel-beth-maacah, A'bel-Beth-Ma'acah. Abelbethmaachah . ...
/a/a'bel-beth-ma'acah.htm - 7k

Benhadad (24 Occurrences)
... hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against
the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all ...
/b/benhadad.htm - 28k

Hosts (326 Occurrences)
... hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against
the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all ...
/h/hosts.htm - 38k

Hearkened (171 Occurrences)
... hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against
the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all ...
/h/hearkened.htm - 39k

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