Jabesh-gilead

Illustration of Jabesh-gilead

Jabesh-gilead was an Israelite city located east of the Jordan River in the region of Gilead, notable for its close relationship with the tribe of Benjamin and its pivotal role in the early monarchy. The city first appears in Judges 21, where its inhabitants were attacked for failing to join the assembly against Benjamin, with surviving virgins given as wives to the decimated tribe. Its most significant moment came when the Ammonite king Nahash besieged the city and threatened to gouge out the right eye of every inhabitant as a condition of surrender. The desperate plea of Jabesh-gilead's elders reached Saul at Gibeah, who rallied all Israel and delivered the city in a decisive night attack, establishing his military reputation and solidifying his kingship. The gratitude of Jabesh-gilead's people endured beyond Saul's death; when the Philistines displayed his body on the walls of Beth-shan, valiant men of Jabesh-gilead marched through the night to recover and honorably bury the remains of Saul and his sons.

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Details

Region
Transjordan
Modern Location
Tell Abu al-Kharaz or Tell el-Maqlub, east of the Jordan River in modern Jordan
Strongest connections in Scripture
1 Samuel 11 1 Samuel 31

Nearby Places

(within ~40 km)

Key Passages

Saul Rescues Jabesh-gilead

1 Samuel 11:1-11

Saul's rescue of Jabesh-gilead demonstrates his early courage and God's empowerment, uniting Israel behind their new king.

T1hen Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. 3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven daysโ€™ respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee. 4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept. 5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. 6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. 7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. 8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you. 11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

Men of Jabesh Recover Saul's Body

1 Samuel 31:11-13

The loyalty of Jabesh-gilead's warriors in recovering Saul's body shows enduring gratitude and honor even in defeat.

A11nd when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;

12 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. 13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

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