Abil al-Qamh

Abil al-Qamh (Arabic: آبل القمح‎) was a Palestinian village located near the Lebanese border norther of Safad. It was depopulated in 1948.

Name

According to Khalidi, its Arabic name derives from its Aramaic; the first part of its name abil means "meadow" and the latter part qamh means "wheat". According to Palmer, who wrote in the 19th century when the name of the village was Abl, it was probably derived from the name Abel Beth Maachah.

History

Abil al-Qamh was established on a site that had been inhabited since 2900 BCE and remained populated for over 2,000 years. It was captured by Thutmose III in 1468 BCE. During the Israelite period, under the reign of David, it was fortified, and later conquered by the Arameans. Then, it was incorporated into the Assyrian Empire in 734 BCE where it was known as Abel-Beth-Ma'aka.

Ceramics from the Byzantine era have been found here.

Under Mamluk rule in 1226 CE, Arab geographer Yaqut al-Hamawi mentions Abil al-Qamh as a village belonging to Banias, between Damascus and the Mediterranean Sea.