ABEL [A buhl] (breath, vapor) — the name of a person and two places in the Old Testament:

1. The second son of Adam and Eve (Gen. 4:2). His brother Cain, who was a farmer, brought an offering of his produce to the Lord. Abel, a shepherd, brought to the Lord an offering “of the firstlings [the best quality] of his flock.” Genesis records: “And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but he did not respect Cain and his offering” (Gen. 4:4–5). Envious of Abel, Cain killed his brother and was cursed by God for the murder.

In the New Testament, Abel is described as a man of faith, who “offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” (Heb. 11:4). Cain murdered his brother Abel, writes John, “because his [Cain's] works were evil and his brother's [Abel's] righteous” (1 John 3:12). Jesus spoke of “the blood of righteous Abel” (Matt. 23:35; Luke 11:51) and implied that Abel, the first righteous martyr, anticipated in symbol His own death on Calvary at the hands of evil men. The blood of the new covenant, however, “speaks better things than that of Abel” (Heb. 12:24). The blood of Abel cried out for vengeance; the blood of Christ speaks of salvation.

2. A large stone in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh on which the ARK OF THE COVENANT was set by the Philistines (1 Sam. 6:18).

3. A fortified city in northern Israel, which Joab besieged after the rebellion of Sheba (2 Sam. 20:14–15, 18). This city, called Abel of Beth Maachah, is probably the same place as ABEL BETH MAACHAH.

ABEL ACACIA GROVE [A bell a KAY shuh grove] — a site northeast of the Dead Sea in the plains of Moab, also called Acacia Grove. It was here that the Israelites camped just before crossing the Jordan and entering the Promised Land (Num. 25:1; Josh. 2:1; 3:1; Mic. 6:5; Shittim, KJV). It was probably the same place as Abel–shittim (Num. 33:49, KJV).

Most scholars identify Acacia Grove with Tell el–Hamman, although some think it was at nearby Tell el–Kefrein. Many notable events occurred while the Israelites were camped here. Here many Israelites took Moabite women for their wives and worshiped Moabite gods. As punishment, God allowed a plague to kill 24,000 Israelites (Num. 25:9).

At this campsite Moses also took a military census of the Israelite tribes, establishing the number of those 20 years old and above who were able to go to war (Num. 26:2). At Acacia Grove God also revealed to Moses that he would not be allowed to cross the Jordan River and that Joshua would be his successor as leader of the people (Num. 27:12–23).

After Moses ascended Mount Nebo and died (Deuteronomy 34), Joshua sent out two spies from Acacia Grove to examine the defense of Jericho (Josh. 2:1). Upon their return, the Israelites broke camp and crossed the Jordan River, finally entering the land that God had promised to Abraham and his descendants hundreds of years earlier (Josh. 3:1).

ABEL BETH MAACHAH [A bell beth MAY uh kah] (meadow of the house of Maachah) — a fortified town near the town of Dan in the area of the tribe of Naphtali. It was attacked by Ben– Hadad (1 Kin. 15:20) and Tiglath–Pileser (2 Kin. 15:29), who mentions it in his annals. The name of the town is also given as Abel Maim, meaning “Abel on the waters” (2 Chr. 16:4). It is described as a “mother in Israel”—meaning a place of great importance, having many “daughters,” or inhabitants.

Photo by Willem A. VanGemeren

The mound of Abel Beth Maacah in the northern part of Naphtali.

ABEL CHERAMIM [A bell CARE uh meem] — a form of ABEL KERAMIM.

ABEL KERAMIM [A bell CARE uh meem] (meadow of vineyards) — a city east of the Jordan River and northeast of the Dead Sea. Abel Keramim was the farthest extent of Jephthah's military campaign against the Ammonites (Judg. 11:33; Abel Cheramim, KJV).

ABEL MAIM [A bell im] — a city in northern Israel (2 Chr. 16:4; Abel-mayim, REB), usually called ABEL BETH MAACHAH.

ABEL MAYIM — a form of ABEL MAIM.

ABEL MEHOLAH [A bell me HOE lah] (meadow of dancing) — a town east of the Jordan River in the hill country of Gilead. It was the residence (and perhaps also the birthplace) of Elisha the prophet (1 Kin. 4:12; 19:16). In 1943, archaeologist Nelson Glueck identified Abel Meholah with Tell el–Maqlub, by the Wadi el–Yabis.

ABEL MIZRAIM [A bell MIZ ray ihm] (see ATAD).

ABEL SHITTIM [A bell SHIT tihm] — a form of ABEL ACACIA GROVE.