Where Sheba took refuge from Joab (2Sa 20:14-18); it was captured by Ben-hadad (1Ki 15:20), and by Tiglath-pileser (2Ki 15:29); corresponding to the modern Abil, west of Tell el-Kadi, and north of Lake Huleh.
R. A. S. Macalister.
And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and to all the Berites. And they were gathered, and went after him too. And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah. And they threw up a siege-mound against the city. And it stood against the wall. And all the people with Joab were undermining the wall to make it fall. read more. Then a wise woman cried out of the city, Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, Come near here so that I may speak with you. And when he had come near her, the woman said, Are you Joab? And he answered, I am. And she said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid. And he answered, I hear. And she spoke, saying, They spoke often in days gone by, saying, Surely they will ask of Abel, and so they ended the matter.
And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the commanders of the armies which he had against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-beth-maachah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and he deported them to Assyria.