Dictionaries :: Abelbethmaachah

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Abelbethmaachah:

(meadow of the house of oppression) a town of some importance ("a city and a mother in Israel," 2 Samuel 20:19) in the extreme north of Palestine; named with Dan, Cinneroth, Kedesh; and as such falling an early prey to the invading kings of Syria (1 Kings 15:20) and Assyria (2 Kings 15:29). In the parallel passage, 2 Chronicles 16:4, the name is changed to Abel‐Main, "Abel on the waters". Here Sheba was overtaken and besieged by Joab (2 Samuel 20:14-15); and the city was saved by the exercise, on the part of one of its inhabitants, of that sagacity for which it was proverbial (2 Samuel 20:18). In verses 14 and 18 it is simply Abel, and in 14 is apparently distinguished from Beth‐maachah.