Bible Dictionaries

Holman Bible Dictionary

Abel-Beth-Maachah or Abel-Beth-Maacah

(NAS, NIV, RSV). (ay' behl-behth-may' uh cuh) See 2 Samuel 20:1-22 ). Ben-hadad, king of Syria, answered the call for help of Asa, king of Judah (913-873), and conquered Abel-beth-Maachah from Baasha, king of Israel (1 Kings 15:20 ). Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, captured the city from Pekah, king of Israel (2 Kings 15:29 ). Abel-beth-maachah is identified with the modern Abil el-Oamh, twelve miles north of Lake Huleh near Dan. Its name indicates it was once part of the city state of Maachah controlled by Arameans (2 Samuel 10:6 ).