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H64 · Hebrew · Old Testament
אָבֵל כְּרָמִים
Abel Keramim
Proper noun, place
Abel Keramim

Definition

Abel Keramim means "meadow of vineyards." It is a place in Ammon (modern Jordan) mentioned only once, marking the extent of Jephthah's victory over the Ammonites.

Usage & Theological Significance

The name captures a tragic irony: a place of fruitfulness — vineyards, meadows — becomes a boundary marker for violent conquest. Jephthah's victory here came at immense personal cost: his rash vow led to the sacrifice of his daughter. The geography of blessing (vineyards) frames a story of judgment, grief, and the danger of vows made without wisdom. It calls us to speak carefully before God.

Key Bible Verses

Judges 11:33 He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon.
Judges 11:30 And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD: 'If you give the Ammonites into my hands...'
Judges 11:35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, 'Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me down...'
Deuteronomy 2:19 When you come to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them to war, for I will not give you possession of any land belonging to the Ammonites.
Numbers 30:2 When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath... he must not break his word but must do everything he said.

Related Words

External Resources

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