Arrowsmith

1Sam 6:18, Abel, the great stone of, on which the ark of God was set down, after it had been sent back by the Philistines. It was situated in the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, near Bethshemesh, on the common borders of Philistia and of the tribes Judah and Dan. it was here, that they clave the wood of the cart on which the ark was brought, and offered thekine as a burnt offering; and the Levittes took down the ark, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on “The Great Stone.” See marg. By some the name of this place is rendered Great Abel, i.e. Great Mourning , Abel signifying mourning as well as valley; and it is supposed to have obtained this appellation in consequence of the mourning there made for the Bethshemites who were struck dead for presuming to look into the ark, 1Sam 6:14-19.