Jabesh

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Jabesh and Jabesh-Gilead ( Jâ'Besh-Gĭl'E-Ad ), Dry Gilead. A city east of the Jordan; destroyed by the Israelites,  Judges 21:8-14; delivered from Nahash by Saul,  1 Samuel 11:1-11, and in gratitude therefor, its people brought the bodies of Saul and his sons, which the Philistines hung upon the walls of Bethshan, to Jabesh, and caused them to be buried in a wood near by.  1 Samuel 31:11-13. David blessed them,  2 Samuel 2:4-6, but afterward removed the bones to Saul's ancestral burying-place.  2 Samuel 2:4-6;  2 Samuel 21:12-14. Robinson identifies it with ed-Deir, 23 miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee on the south side of Wady Yabis. Merrill, however, would identify Jabesh with the ruins of a town found about 7 miles from Pella and about 2300 feet above the Jordan valley. This seems to conform to the Biblical statements concerning the place.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ja'besh. (Dry).

1. Father of Shallum, the fifteenth king of Israel.  2 Kings 15:10;  2 Kings 15:13-14.

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 .

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

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,  Judges 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 .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., DD Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Jabesh'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/j/jabesh.html. 1897.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

or Jabesh-Gilead the name of a city in the half tribe of Manasseh, east of Jordan. Naash, king of the Ammonites, besieged Genesis 2 :  1 Samuel 11:1 , &c. The inhabitants were friendly to Saul and his family,  1 Samuel 31:11-12 .

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

JABESH . Father of Shallum, who usurped the kingdom of Israel by the assassination of king Zechariah (  2 Kings 15:10;   2 Kings 15:13-14 ).

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Samuel 11:1 1 Samuel 31:1 2 Kings 15:13Jabesh-Gilead

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Father of Shallum king of Israel.  2 Kings 15:10,13,14 .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Yabesh', יָבֵשׁ , Dry, as in  Job 41:25;  Ezekiel 17:24, etc.; also written fully Yabeysh', יָבֵישׁ ,  1 Samuel 11:1;  1 Samuel 11:3;  1 Samuel 11:5;  1 Samuel 11:10;  1 Samuel 31:11;  2 Samuel 2:4-5;  1 Chronicles 10:12, first time), the name of a place and also of a man.

1. (Sept. in Samuel Ι᾿Αβίς , in Chronicles Γαβείς ) The shorter form ( 1 Samuel 11:3;  1 Samuel 11:9-10;  1 Samuel 20:12-13;  1 Chronicles 10:12, only) of the name of the city elsewhere called JABESH-GILEAD (See Jabesh-Gilead) (q.v.).

2. (Sept. Ι᾿Αβείς v. R. Ἀβείς , Joseph. Ιάβησος , Ant. Ix, 11, 1.) The father of Shallum, which latter usurped the throne of Israel by the assassination of Zachariah ( 2 Kings 15:10;  2 Kings 15:13-14). B.C. ante 770.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Ja´besh or Jabesh Gilead, a town beyond the Jordan, in the land of Gilead.

Jabesh belonged to the half-tribe of Manasseh, and was sacked by the Israelites for refusing to join in the war against Benjamin . It is chiefly memorable for the siege it sustained from Nahash, king of the Ammonites, the raising of which formed the first exploit of the newly-elected king, Saul, and procured his confirmation in the sovereignty. The inhabitants had agreed to surrender, and to have their right eyes put out (to incapacitate them from military service), but were allowed seven days to ratify the treaty. In the meantime Saul collected a large army, and came to their relief (1 Samuel 11). This service was gratefully remembered by the Jabeshites; and, about forty years after, when the dead bodies of Saul and his sons were gibbeted on the walls of Bethshan, on the other side of the river, they made a forced march by night, took away the bodies, and gave them honorable burial (1 Samuel 31).

Jabesh still existed as a town in the time of Eusebius, who places it six miles from Pella towards Gerasa; but the knowledge of the site is now lost, unless we accept the conclusion of Mr. Buckingham, who thinks it may be found in a place called Jehaz or Jejaz, marked by ruins upon a hill, in a spot not far from which, according to the above indications, Jabesh must have been situated.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

jā´besh ( יבשׁ , yābhēsh ): A short form of Jabesh-Gilead (which see).