Abel-meholah

Abel-meholah, meaning 'meadow of dancing,' was a town in the Jordan Valley south of Beth-shan. When Gideon's three hundred blew their trumpets, the fleeing Midianite host ran toward the border of Abel-meholah. Solomon's list of districts places it at the edge of the territory stretching from Beth-shan. Above all, it was the home of Elisha the son of Shaphat. At Mount Horeb God told Elijah to anoint 'Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah' as prophet in his place, and Elijah found him plowing with twelve yoke of oxen and cast his mantle upon him. Elisha slew his oxen, boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, fed the people, and followed Elijah.

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Details

Region: Northern Israel
Modern Location: Jordan Valley, south of Beth-shan. The exact site is uncertain; Tell Abu Sus is one proposed location.

Strongest connections in Scripture

1 Kings 19 2× Judges 7 1 Kings 4

Journey Paths

Elijah's Journey

Mount Carmel → Jordan River → Jezreel → Abel-meholah

Elisha's Journey

Jordan River → Dothan → Abel-meholah

Gideon's Journey

Jezreel → Abel-meholah

Key Passages

Midian Flees Toward Abel-meholah

Judges 7:22

God sets the Midianites against one another and they flee down the Jordan valley.

A²²nd the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.

In Solomon's Districts

1 Kings 4:12

Abel-meholah marks the edge of an administrative district that ran from Beth-shan.

B¹²aana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:

Elisha of Abel-meholah

1 Kings 19:16

At Horeb God names Elisha as Elijah's successor.

A¹⁶nd Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

The Mantle Falls on Elisha

1 Kings 19:19-21

Elisha leaves his plow and his oxen to follow Elijah.

S¹⁹o he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

²⁰ And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? ²¹ And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.