a city of ancient Syria, the capital of the tetrarchy of Abilene. Its site is indicated by some ruins and inscriptions, near the village of Souk, on the banks of the river Barrada, on the road between Baalbec and Damascus, a little to the east of the range of Esh Sharki, or Anti-libanus, 33. 40. N. Lat., 36. 91. E. Long. It was the capital of the Abilene of which Lysanias was tetrarch in the time of John the Baptist (Luke iii. 1). From the tradition of this being the scene of Abel’s murder, it is now called Nebi-Abel. It lies between Baalbec and Damascus, in Lat. 33. 38. N., Long. 36.18. E.