Abel-meholah

Abel-meholah, a town in Israel, the birthplace of Elisha.

Abel-meholah was a town in Israel, located in the Jordan Valley, south of Beth-shean. It is first mentioned in Judges 7:22, where it is described as one of the places to which the Midianites fled after being defeated by Gideon. Later, in 1Ki.4.12, Abel-meholah is listed as part of the district overseen by Baana son of Ahilud, one of Solomon's twelve district governors. The town is most notable as the birthplace of the prophet Elisha, as mentioned in 1Ki.19.16, where God commands Elijah to anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as his successor.

Meadow of dancing, or the dancing-meadow, the birth-place and residence of the prophet Elisha, not far from Beth-shean (1 Kings 4:12), in the tribe of Issachar, near where the Wady el-Maleh emerges into the valley of the Jordan, “the rich meadow-land which extends about 4 miles south of Beth-shean; moist and luxuriant.” Here Elisha was found at his plough by Elijah on his return up the Jordan valley from Horeb (1 Kings 19:16). It is now called ‘Ain Helweh.