ABEL-BETH-MAACAH

Abel Beth Maachah which meant "Meadow of the house of Maachah" was a city in northern Israel near Beth Maachah. It is indicated as a small Syrian kingdom probably lay between Geshur on the South and Hermon on the North, and bounded by Jordan on the West. The inhabitants of Maachah were called Maachathites. The border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites and all Mt. Hermon were given to the half-tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 13:11). The inhabitants of these kingdoms, however, had not been expelled by Israel (Joshua 13:13), and at a later day the children of Ammon hired mercenaries from Maacah for their encounter with David. When the sons of Ammon saw that they had become odious to David, they hired the Arameans of Beth-rehob and the Arameans of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob with 12,000 men. (2 Samuel 10:16) The two armies met at Medeba, however Joab, the Captain of David routed the syrians completely. There is a probabilty that Abel-Beth-Maacah might have been a colony founded by men from Maacah.

We see three references of Abel-Beth-Maachah in the Bible.

'And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.' (2 Samuel 20:15)

In this context it is spoken of as the city, far to the north, where Joab besieged Sheba. David had many distresses one after the other as if those were out of the ashes of the former and followed through the saying that the sword should never depart from his house. After the rebellion of his son Absalom, before he could reach Jerusalem, a new rebellion was raised by Sheba, son of Bikri, a Benjamite by birth and had his habitation in Mount Ephraim. Shimei and Sheba were both of Saul’s tribe, and both retained the ancient grudge of that house against David. David, in the midst of his triumphs, has here the affliction to see his kingdom disturbed and his family disgraced. Amass had been Absalom’s General and Commander-In-Chief of his rebellious army, but that being browbeaten, he defected into David’s camp, upon a promise that he should be made General of his Army in place of Joab. David tried to avail himself this oppertunity of Sheba’s rebellion to fulfil his promise to Amass who was nephew to David (2 Samuel:17:25). Amass, whom he entrusted to raise an army against Sheba was sluggish in his assignment which put David into a fright and forced to reassign the job to Abishai. Joab’s envy and rivalry culminated for ill consequence to murder Amass barbarously, when they were taking the field.

Amass lay wallowing in blood in the middle of the highway and all the people stood still there. As soon as Amasa's corpse was removed from the highway into the field and covered with a cloth, all the men went after Joab to pursue Sheba. While Sheba was at length shut up in the city of Abel Beth Maachah, all the tribes of Israel were gathered together and went after Joab to Abel Beth Maacah, attacked it with all their fury, besieged him, cast up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood in the trench; and all the people who were with Joab battered the wall in order to topple it. A just and wise woman of this city of Abel brought this matter, by her prudent management, to a good issue, so as to satisfy Joab and yet save the city. Her treaty with Joab, and her capitulation with him, by which he is engaged to raise the siege, upon condition that Sheba be delivered up. It seems, none of all the men of Abel or none of the officers of Joab were concerned for the public safety or they stood in awe of Sheba. But this one woman and her wisdom saved the city. She arranged to cut off the head of Sheba and threw it to Joab. So Joab blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem.

'So Benhadad 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 Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.' (1 Kings 15:20)

In this context it is mentioned that Abel Beth Maachah along with Ijon and Dan and "all the land of Naphtali" were smitten by Benhadad of Damascus during the time of Baasha. In the account in Chronicles parallel to this last (2 Chronicles 16:4) 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. 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. ...Encyclo.

Benhadad was the son of Tabrimmon and grandson of Hezion, king of Syria, lived in Demascus (1 Kings 15:18). Hezion is indicated as the man who founded the kingdom of Damascus and cultivated in Syria that temper of hostility to Israel which became innate. By the time Benhadad entered into this succession, Syria was the strongest power in this region of Western Asia, exploiting every opportunity for build up of her dominance.

The two Hebrew kingdoms, Israel and Judha had been at feud ever since their disruption. Baasha, the King of Israel, had attacked Judha and pushed his frontier southward to Ramah, within 5 miles of Jerusalem. His commanding eminence continued to encroach and finally fortified Ramah as a frontier fortress. Asa, son of Abijah, grandson of Rehoboam was the contemporary king of Judha during the time of Baasha. Asa was the third king after the separation of Judah and Israel. Maacah was his mother, or rather grandmother, was daughter of Absalom. (1 Kings 15:1) The humiliation of his rival's presence and danger of the vicinity of the enemy near his capital made Asa into great anxiety. Asa, faint-hearted, instead of putting his entire trust in Yahweh, made an alliance with Ben-hadad, of Damascus. Taking all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasury of the house of the Lord, and the treasury of the king's house, Asa sent them to Benhadad with a request for an alliance begging him to break off the league he had with Baasha and thus enable Asa to dislodge his enemy. Benhadad saw an opening for the embellishment of his kingdom and in consideration of a large sum of money and much treasure from the temple at Jerusalem broke off the alliance he had with Jeroboam and Baasha. Benhadad sent his Army against Baasha of Israel and conquered Abel Beth Maachah along with other cities Ijon, Cinneroth and all the land of Naphtali. Baasha ceased fortifying Ramah and stopped his work. Then King Asa brought all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with which Baasha had been building, and with them he fortified Geba and Mizpah.

For his shortsightedness in laying himself under obligation to Benhadad and relying upon the help of Syria rather than upon the Lord his God, Asa was severely criticized by the prophet Hanani (2 Chronicle 16:7) Asa, instead of listening patiently to this prophet of God, was greatly offended and enraged and Hanani was put in prison. Three years later, in the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa became diseased in his feet. His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but depended on the physicians. Having ruled forty-one years, he died and was buried with great pomp in a tomb erected by himself in the city of David.

'In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.' (2 Kings 15:29)

In this context, 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 Chronicle. Tiglathpileser, in his successive campaigns had proved himself as resistanceless conqueror. Pekah was the contemperory king of Israel that time. Pekah was the son of Remaliah and was eighteenth king of Israel. Pekah murdered his predecessor, Pekahiah, and seized the reigns of power. (2 Kings 15:25) His usurpation of the throne is said to have taken place in fiftysecond year of Uzziah, and it lasted for 20 years. So the period of his accession is indicated as around 748 BC. In about 735 BC, a coalition league was formed to resist the westward advance of Assyria, of which Pekah was a prominant organiser member. The new league comprised the Princes of Comagene, Gebal, Hamath, Arvad, Ammon, Moab, Edom, Gaza, Samaria, Syria, and some minor potentates, the list being taken from a roll of the subject-princes who attended a court and paid tribute after the fall of Damascus. ....Encyclo.

While the plans of the allies were in course of formation, an obstacle was met with the refusal of Ahaz, then on the throne of David in Judah, to join the confederation. As all the coercion had been failed to move him, resort was had to force, and the troops of Rezin king of Syria and Pekah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him. (2 Kings 16:5) Great terror had spread over Judah at this news of their approach. The allies had in view to depose Ahaz of his crown, and give it to one of their own man, a son of Tabeel. God had given the word to Isaiah to go to Ahaz and to give courage to him. By the devine direction from God Isaiah advocated a policy of neutrality and he himself was the backbone of the opposition to their projects. Even though Isaiah could succeed to keep away Ahaz from the coalition, but could not prevent him from sending an emissary with gifts to Tiglath-pileser, to secure his intervention. On the news arriving that the Assyrian was on the march, a hasty retreat was made from Jerusalem, and the blow soon thereafter fell, where Isaiah had predicted, on Rezin and Pekah, and their kingdoms. (Isaiah 7 & 8)

The messengers sent from Jerusalem to Nineveh appear to have arrived when the army of Tiglath-pileser was already prepared to march. The movements of the Assyrians being expedited, they fell upon Damascus before the junction of the allies was accomplished. Rezin was defeated in a decisive battle, and took refuge in his capital, which was closely invested. Another part of the invading army descended on the upper districts of Syria and Samaria. Serious resistance to the veteran troops of the East could hardly be made, and city after city fell. A list of districts and cities that were overrun is given in. It comprises Gilead beyond Jordan--already partly depopulated (1 Chronicles 5:26); the tribal division of Naphtali, lying to the West of the lakes of Galilee and Merom, and all Galilee, as far South as the plain of Esdraelon and the Valley of Jezreel. Cities particularly mentioned are Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor.

(Excerpts from 'Light of Life - The Bible : A Family Companion' to be launched)