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JABNEEL.—1. A town on the N. border of Judah, near Mt. Baalah, and close to the sea (Jos_15:11). In 2Ch_26:6 it is mentioned under the name Jabneh, along with Gath and Ashdod, as one of the cities captured from the Philistines by Uzziah. Although these are the only OT references, it is frequently mentioned (under the name Jamnia) in the Books of Maccabees (1Ma_4:15; 1Ma_5:58; 1Ma_10:69; 1Ma_15:40, 2Ma_12:8-9; 2Ma_12:40) and in Josephus. Judas is said to have burned its harbour; it was captured by Simon from the Syrians. In Jdt_2:28 it is called Jemnaan. After various vicissitudes it was captured in the war of the Jews by Vespasian. After the destruction of Jerusalem, Jabneel, now called Jamnia, became the home of the Sanhedrin. At the time of the Crusades the castle Ibelin stood on the site. To-day the village of Yebna stands on the ruined remains of these ancient occupations. It stands 170 feet above the sea on a prominent hill S. of the Wady Rubin. The ancient Majumas or harbour of Jamnia lies to the West. ‘The port would seem to be naturally better than any along the coast of Palestine S. of Cæsarea’ (Warren).
2. An unknown site on the N. boundary of Naphtali not far from the Jordan (Jos_19:33).
E. W. G. Masterman.