Abel-Queramim was an ancient settlement of the Kingdom of Ammon that was conquered by the Israelites around 1100 BC, during Israel’s battles against the oppression of the Ammonites.
the city is remembered for being one of the twenty Ammonite cities captured by the Judge Jephthah after the defeat of the Kingdom of Ammon.
Biblical History of Abel-Queramim
It is believed that the city was built by the Ammonites around 1600 BC, during a period in which the region of Gilead, east of Jordan River, was dominated by the Amorite, Ammonite and Moabite peoples.
The city was built by the Ammonite peasants for housing. The region was known to be relatively fertile, close to the Jordan Valley. Its soil was used for planting vines, wheat and some vegetables.
The name of the city was given by the large number of vineyards in the region.
Conquest of Abel-Queramim by the Israelites and Battles of Judge Jephthah
Abel-Queramim is mentioned only once in the Bible, in the Old Testament (Judges 11:33). It was one of the cities taken by Judge Jephthah after Israel’s war against the Kingdom of Ammon.
After eighteen years of suffering under the oppression of the Ammonites in the region of Gilead, caused by the apostasy of the people and their worship to pagan gods Like Baal and Ashtaroth, the Israelites turned again to the Mr., who had compassion on his people.
Around the year 1100 BC, the leaders of Gilead gathered together and chose Jephthah as a judge over the people and as leader of the army, who would lead the Israelite troops against the kingdom of Ammon.
According to the biblical account, Israel achieved a great victory over its enemies, conquering twenty Ammonite cities, among them aroer, Abel-Queramim and minite.
Due to the lack of biblical/historical accounts before this war, scholars believe that this city was not controlled by the Israelites after the defeat of seom, King of Hesbon. With this, the first time Israel took possession of Abel-Keramim was after the defeat of Ammonite under the leadership of Jephthah
Geography and Location of Abel-Queramim
Based on the meaning of the name of the city and the description of the biblical text, it is believed that the city was south of the ancient city of Hesbon, close to the Jordan Valley.
Due to its proximity to the Jordan River Valley, the lands close to the city were considered fertile. This soil fertility was widely used for vine planting.
In addition to the grapes, farmers in the region cultivated other common crops in the region, such as wheat and barley.
the city also benefited from being close to an important trade route of the past, the so-called King’s Road.
Possible location of Abel-Queramim
According to Eusébio de Caesarea and Sofrônio Jerônimo, Abel-Queramim was 8 km south of the city of Rabá[2]. staying in the ruins of Khirbet es-suq, in the south of the capital of Jordan, Amman[2].
Despite the possible place pointed out by these theologians, recent historians believe that it is the current naʽur, a small village near Amman.[2]
Meaning of the name “Abel-Queramim”
The name of the city “Abel-Queramim” has its origin in Hebrew and means “Vineyard Water Course” or “Vine Field”. which suggests that in the past the region was widely used for the planting of vineyards for the manufacture of wine.[2]
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[Vídeo] how to pronounce abel-keramim. How to pronounce.
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Sources
[1] Abel-Keramim. Portuguese Bible.
[2] Abel-Queramin. JW.
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