Abel-Meholah

Abel-meholah is a town in the Jordan valley. It is named once in Gideon's pursuit of the Midianites, once in Solomon's administrative roster, and once as the home town of Elisha.

The Edge of Gideon's Rout

The Midianite host, panicked by the trumpets and Yahweh's confusion of their swords, flees through a string of place-names that ends at Abel-meholah's territory: "And they blew the three hundred trumpets, and Yahweh set every man's sword against his fellow soldier, and against all the host; and the host fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath" (Judges 7:22).

In Solomon's District

Solomon's administrative list assigns the area to Baana, son of Ahilud, who supplies the king's household one month a year: "Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth-shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as beyond Jokmeam" (1 Kings 4:12).

Elisha's Home

When Yahweh commissions Elijah at Horeb, the town reappears as Elisha's home: "and Jehu the son of Nimshi you will anoint to be king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you will anoint to be prophet in your place" (1 Kings 19:16).