MAACAH mā’ a ka (מַֽעֲכָה׃֙; B, Μωχᾶ, A, Μααχά; perhaps from mā’ak “squeeze, press,” hence, oppression). A small state SE of Mt. Hermon. It bordered Geshur on the S and may have crossed the Jordan to Abel-beth-maacah on the W. Jair, son of Manasseh, made conquest of the land (Deut 3:14; Josh 12:5), and it was assigned to the half tribe of Manasseh (Josh 13:29). Both Maacathites and neighboring Geshurites remained in occupancy of their lands after Jair’s conquest (Josh 13:13). During the reign of David, the king of Maacah contributed 1000 men as mercenaries to aid Ammon in war with Israel (2 Sam 10:6-8; 1 Chron 19:6, 7).

Bibliography B. Mazur, “Geshur and Maacah,” JBL, LXXX (March, 1961), 16-28.