The BibleGospel Companion

Jabesh

יָבֵשׁ · ya.vesh · H3003Gגִּלְעָד · gil.ad · H1568L“dryness; confusion; shame” Hitchcock's 186918 mentions in 4 books, most in 1 Samuel (8)
Illustration — not a likeness; generated for Gospel Companion in the app's painting style — Jabesh
Illustration — not a likeness; generated for Gospel Companion in the app's painting style

Where it is

AenonAenonBrook of the WillowsBrook of the WillowsZaphonZaphonBeth-sheanBeth-sheanBezekBezekHeresHeresJabeshabout 52 km across

32.38° N, 35.61° E · ESV spelling: Jabesh-gilead

Coordinates and map: OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding · CC BY 4.0 · drawn without map tiles

Mentioned most in

1 Samuel · 8Judges · 52 Samuel · 31 Chronicles · 2
Counted from 18 references · STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

About this place

Jabesh, also known as Jabesh-gilead, was a town located in the region of Gilead, east of the Jordan River. The city is first mentioned in the book of Judges, where the inhabitants refused to join the Israelites in fighting against the tribe of Benjamin (Judges 21:8-14). As a result, the town was attacked, and the virgins of Jabesh were given as wives to the surviving Benjamites. Later, during the reign of King Saul, the Ammonites besieged Jabesh, and Saul came to their rescue, defeating the Ammonites and solidifying his position as king (1Sa.11.1-11). After Saul's death, the men of Jabesh bravely retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the Philistines and buried them (1Sa.31.11-13; 1Ch.10.11-12). David later praised the men of Jabesh for their loyalty and kindness to Saul (2Sa.2.4-7). The town's location is uncertain, but it was likely situated in northern Gilead, possibly near modern-day Wadi Yabis in Jordan.

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

18 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)
JudgesChapter 21: 5 mentions5 mentions
Judges 21:8They said, “What one is there of the tribes of Israel who didn’t come up to Yahweh to Mizpah?” Behold, no one came from Jabesh Gilead to the camp to the assembly.Judges 21:9For when the people were counted, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead there.Judges 21:10The congregation sent twelve thousand of the most valiant men there, and commanded them, saying, “Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women…Judges 21:12They found among the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead four hundred young virgins who had not known man by lying with him; and they brought them to the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of…Judges 21:14Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh Gilead. There still weren’t enough for them.
1 SamuelChapter 11: 5 mentionsChapter 31: 3 mentions8 mentions
1 Samuel 11:1Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”1 Samuel 11:3The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel; and then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.”1 Samuel 11:5Behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, “What ails the people that they weep?” They told him the words of the men of Jabesh.1 Samuel 11:9They said to the messengers who came, “Tell the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be rescued.’” The messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they…1 Samuel 11:10Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you shall do with us all that seems good to you.”1 Samuel 31:11When the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,1 Samuel 31:12all the valiant men arose, went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh and burned them there.1 Samuel 31:13They took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
2 SamuelChapter 2: 2 mentionsChapter 21: 1 mention3 mentions
2 Samuel 2:4The men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul.”2 Samuel 2:5David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “Blessed are you by Yahweh, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him.2 Samuel 21:12So David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hanged…
1 ChroniclesChapter 10: 2 mentions2 mentions
1 Chronicles 10:11When all Jabesh Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,1 Chronicles 10:12all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

What the dictionary says

Dry.

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Read the article →

Sources