Syria-Maachah
LocationsGeographical Setting
Maacah was a territorial region and city located in the northern Levant, situated near the headwaters of the Jordan River.
What is the meaning of Syria-Maachah in the Bible?
Maacah refers to both a territory in northern Syria and a city in the Golan region, identified with ancient Panias (modern Banias). The territory was conquered by Tiglath-pileser III around 733 BCE, and the name is also associated with Maacah, the mother of King Baasha of Israel.
SIGNIFICANCE
Distinguishing between the territorial Maacah in the north and the dynastic references in Israel helps clarify the geopolitical landscape and familial alliances described in the historical books of the Bible.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.