Overview:
Jabesh, often referred to as Jabesh-Gilead, is a significant location in the biblical narrative, primarily situated east of the Jordan River in the region of Gilead. It is most notably mentioned in the context of the early monarchy of Israel and the tribal dynamics of the period. The city plays a crucial role in several key events, reflecting themes of loyalty, deliverance, and covenantal relationships.

Biblical References:

1. Judges 21:8-14 · Jabesh-Gilead first appears in the aftermath of a civil conflict within Israel. The tribe of Benjamin was nearly annihilated due to a grievous sin, and the Israelites sought wives for the remaining Benjamites. The men of Jabesh-Gilead had not participated in the assembly at Mizpah, leading to a punitive expedition against them. "So they said, 'Who among the tribes of Israel did not come up to the LORD at Mizpah?' And behold, no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp, to the assembly" (Judges 21:8). The virgins of Jabesh-Gilead were given as wives to the Benjamites, highlighting the city's initial estrangement and subsequent integration into the broader tribal confederation.

2. 1 Samuel 11:1-11 · Jabesh-Gilead is prominently featured in the narrative of Saul's rise to kingship. The Ammonite king Nahash besieged Jabesh-Gilead, threatening to gouge out the right eye of its inhabitants as a disgrace upon Israel. The people of Jabesh sent messengers to Saul, who was then a newly anointed king. Saul, filled with the Spirit of God, rallied the Israelites and delivered Jabesh-Gilead from the Ammonites. "Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger burned furiously" (1 Samuel 11:6). This event solidified Saul's leadership and demonstrated God's deliverance through His chosen king.

3. 1 Samuel 31:11-13 · The loyalty of Jabesh-Gilead is further exemplified following the death of Saul. After the Philistines defeated Israel and Saul fell on Mount Gilboa, the Philistines desecrated his body. The valiant men of Jabesh-Gilead retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the walls of Beth-shan, brought them back to Jabesh, and gave them a proper burial. "When the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all their valiant men set out, journeyed all night, and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan" (1 Samuel 31:11-12). This act of bravery and respect underscores the deep bond between Jabesh-Gilead and Saul, likely stemming from his earlier deliverance of the city.

Historical and Theological Significance:

Jabesh-Gilead's narrative is interwoven with themes of covenant loyalty and divine intervention. The city's initial punishment for non-participation in the national assembly contrasts with its later acts of loyalty and valor. The deliverance by Saul marks a pivotal moment in Israel's transition from a loose confederation of tribes to a centralized monarchy, with Jabesh-Gilead serving as a catalyst for Saul's acceptance as king.

Theologically, Jabesh-Gilead's account reflects the importance of covenant faithfulness and the role of divine providence in the affairs of Israel. The city's experiences illustrate the consequences of disunity and the blessings of unity under God's chosen leadership. Jabesh-Gilead's actions in retrieving Saul's body also highlight the enduring respect for God's anointed, even in death, and the importance of honoring those who have served God's purposes.

Conclusion:

Jabesh-Gilead remains a testament to the complexities of tribal relationships in ancient Israel and the overarching narrative of God's faithfulness to His people. Through its interactions with the broader Israelite community, Jabesh-Gilead exemplifies the themes of redemption, loyalty, and the enduring impact of righteous leadership.Jabesh

dryness; confusion; shame

Jabesh

(dry).

1. Father of Shallum, the fifteenth king of Israel. (2 Kings 15:10,13,14)
2. Jabesh-gilead, or Jabesh in the territory of Gilead. In its widest sense Gilead included the half tribe of Manasseh, (1 Chronicles 27:21) as well as the tribes of Gad and Reuben, (Numbers 32:1-42) east of the Jordan; and of the cities of Gilead, Jabesh was the chief. It is first mentioned in (Judges 21:8-14) Being attacked subsequently by Nahash the Ammonite, it gave Saul an opportunity of displaying his prowess in its defence. (1 Samuel 11:1-15) Eusebius places it beyond the Jordan, six miles from Pella on the mountain road to Gerasa; where its name is probably preserved in the Wady Yabes.

Jabesh

A city in the half-tribe of Manasseh east of the Jordan generally called Jabesh-gilead because situated within the territory commonly called Gilead. Eusebius places it six miles from Pella, towards Gerasa. It was sacked by the Israelites for refusing to aid in chastising the Benjamites, Jud 21:8-10

At a later day, it was besieged by the Ammonites, and relieved by Saul; in gratitude for which service the men of Jabesh-gilead rescued the dead bodies of Saul and his sons from the insults of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 11:1-15 31:11-13 2 Samuel 2:5.

Dry.

(1.) For Jabesh-Gilead (1 Samuel 11:3, 9, 10).

(2.) The father of Shallum (2 Kings 15:10, 13, 14), who usurped the throne of Israel on the death of Zachariah.

JABESH

ja'-besh (yabhesh): A short form of JABESH-GILEAD (which see).

3003. Yabesh -- a place in Gilead, also an Israelite
... Yabesh or Yabesh. 3004 . a place in Gilead, also an Israelite. Transliteration:
Yabesh or Yabesh Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-bashe') Short Definition: Jabesh. ...
/hebrew/3003.htm - 6k

1568. Gilad -- a region in Palestine, also the name of several ...
... of several Isr. NASB Word Usage Gilead (99), Gilead's (1), Gileadites
(2), Jabesh-gilead* (12). Gilead, Gileadite. Probably from ...
/hebrew/1568.htm - 6k

Saul's Expedition against the Nation of the Ammonites and victory ...
... he led his army against those that were called Gileadites, and having pitched his
camp at the metropolis of his enemies, which was the city of Jabesh, he sent ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 sauls expedition against.htm

How Samuel Found a Leader
... After about a month, Nahash, the Ammonite, came up and besieged Jabesh in Gilead;
and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make terms with us and we will ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/how samuel found a leader.htm

The Bright Dawn of a Reign
... And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried
Saul.5. And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh- gilead, and said ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the bright dawn of a.htm

The Death of Two Brave Warriors
... When the inhabitants of Jabesh in Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to
Saul, their brave men rose up and marched all night, and they took the bodies ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the death of two brave.htm

The End of Self-Will
... And when the inhabitants of Jabesh- gilead heard of that which the Philistines
had done to Saul; 12. All the valiant men arose, and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the end of self-will.htm

The First Kings.
... a general. The Ammonites, a mighty and warlike people under king Nahash, besieged
the important town of Jabesh-Gilead. The beleaguered ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/the first kings.htm

The King.
... And what a pathetic beam of struggling light gleams through heavy clouds, in the
grateful exploit of the men of Jabesh, who remembered how he had once saved ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/ix the king.htm

Now Saul Upon God's not Answering Him Concerning the Fight with ...
... But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead heard that they had dismembered the dead
bodies of Saul and of his sons, they deemed it so horrid a thing to overlook ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 14 now saul upon.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... Saul had begun his reign by rescuing Jabesh in Gilead from the Ammonite king Nahash,
who had threatened to treat its inhabitants with innate Semitic barbarity. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

The Grave of John, and Another Grave
... case, it was a brave thing for them to do; an altogether heroic exploit, which may
be classed in the same category with that of the men of Jabesh-Gilead, who ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/xv the grave of john.htm

Jabesh (21 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Dry. (1.) For Jabesh-Gilead (1 Samuel 11:3, 9, 10). ...JABESH.
ja'-besh (yabhesh): A short form of JABESH-GILEAD (which see). ...
/j/jabesh.htm - 14k

Jabesh-gilead (12 Occurrences)
Jabesh-gilead. Jabeshgilead, Jabesh-gilead. Ja'besh-gil'ead . Easton's
Bible Dictionary A town on the east of Jordan, on the top ...
/j/jabesh-gilead.htm - 13k

Ja'besh-gil'ead (12 Occurrences)
Ja'besh-gil'ead. Jabesh-gilead, Ja'besh-gil'ead. Jabez . Multi-Version
Concordance Ja'besh-gil'ead (12 Occurrences). Judges 21:8 ...
/j/ja'besh-gil'ead.htm - 10k

Jabeshgilead (12 Occurrences)
... An expedition went against Jabesh-Gilead, the whole of whose inhabitants were put
to the sword, except four hundred maidens, whom they brought as prisoners and ...
/j/jabeshgilead.htm - 13k

Nahash (9 Occurrences)
... The inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead having been exposed to great danger from Nahash,
sent messengers to Gibeah to inform Saul of their extremity. ...
/n/nahash.htm - 14k

Shallum (27 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Retribution. (1.) The son of Jabesh, otherwise
unknown. He "conspired against Zachariah, and smote him ...
/s/shallum.htm - 22k

Fasted (20 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). 1 Samuel 31:13 They took their bones, and
buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days. ...
/f/fasted.htm - 12k

Beth-shan (3 Occurrences)
... defeat on Gilboa exposed the bodies of Saul and his sons on the wall of the city
(1 Samuel 31:7), whence they were rescued by the men of Jabesh, who remembered ...
/b/beth-shan.htm - 9k

Fighting-men (30 Occurrences)
... Judges 21:10 So they (the meeting) sent twelve thousand of the best fighting-men,
and gave them orders, saying, Go and put the people of Jabesh-gilead to the ...
/f/fighting-men.htm - 16k

Reigneth (54 Occurrences)
... (YLT). 2 Kings 15:10 And Shallum son of Jabesh conspireth against him, and smiteth
him before the people, and putteth him to death, and reigneth in his stead. ...
/r/reigneth.htm - 22k

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