Abel-beth-maachah

Abel-beth-maachah (meaning meadow of the house of Maachah) was a fortified city in the far north of Israel, near Dan and Ijon in the territory of Naphtali. It was described as a mother in Israel—that is, a significant regional center. The city appears in three episodes: it was besieged by Joab during his pursuit of the rebel Sheba son of Bichri; it was later captured by Ben-hadad of Syria; and it was taken by Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria during his campaign that carried its population into exile.