ODOLLAM (Hebrew 'Adhullām; cf. Arabic 'adulta 'to take refuge'). - A Canaanite city, often mentioned in the Bible from the time of the Patriarchs to that of the Maccabees (cf. Gen. 38, 1; Josh. 12, 15; 15, 35; 2 Chron. 11, 7; Neh. 11, 30; 2 Macc. 12, 38), identified in 1875 by Clermont-Ganneau with the present-day Hürbet 'Id-el-mā (Idelmiijeh), about 20 km west-southwest of Bethlehem.
It is situated on one of the many hills of the intermediate region between the 'mountain' and the 'plain', of a limestone nature, abounding in caves, most of them natural (formed by water erosion), sometimes of considerable size (that of Hārejūn is 220 m long). One of these caves served as a refuge for David during Saul's persecution, and here his parents and first followers joined him (1 Sam. 22, 1-5). It again served as a refuge later when, having been anointed king by all Israel after reigning seven years in Hebron, the Philistines marched against him (2 Sam. 5, 17; 23, 13).
O'DONNELL, FAMILY. - A powerful and ancient Irish family, originating in the 11th century, lords of the county of Tyrconnell (now Donegal).
They were often in conflict with England and with the rival O'Neill family. Their power declined in the 17th century, when, with the extinction of the direct line, a cadet, RODRIGO, who had emigrated to the Continent, gave rise to the Spanish and Austrian branches of the family.
In the struggle for the independence of the island and the defense of Catholicism, Hugh Roe, Earl of Tyrconnell from 1592, distinguished himself. Rising against the English government, he defeated its governor at Enniskillen (1594) and occupied Connaught.
