(house of oppression), a place named only in (2 Samuel 20:14,15) In the absence of more information we can only conclude that it is identical with Maachah or Aram-maachah, one of the petty Syrian kingdoms in the north of Palestine. (Comp. (2 Kings 15:29)
Beth-Maachah
A woman on a city wall ends a siege with a few words. In 2 Samuel 20, Joab’s army has followed a rebel to Abel of Bethmaachah and is battering the wall to bring it down. She reminds them that this town was known for being asked for counsel, and the matter is settled. Later in the story the same place is named among the towns that Tiglathpileser of Assyria took, carrying their people away captive (2 Kings 15:29). Start with 2 Samuel 20:14-22 to hear the whole scene, and notice how much a calm voice can carry.
4 verses
2 Samuel
2 Samuel 20:14
And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.
2 Samuel 20:15
And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.
2 Samuel 20:18
Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.
2 Kings
2 Kings 15:29
In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.
From Smith's Bible Dictionary
William Smith, 1884