the same as יָבֵשׁ (also יָבֵישׁ; often with the addition of גִּלְעָד, i.e. Jabesh of Gilad); Jobesh, the name of an Israelite and of a place in Palestine; Jobesh (-Gilead).
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Yâbêsh**, represented by `{{H3003}}`, is primarily the name of a place in Palestine, often appearing with the addition of **Gilʻâd** `{{H1568}}` as Jabesh-gilead. It is also used as the name of an Israelite. The word appears **24 times** in **21 unique verses**, playing a significant role in several key narratives of Israel's history.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The story of **Yâbêsh** unfolds across several critical moments in the Old Testament. In the book of Judges, the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead failed to join the rest of Israel `{{H3478}}` at an assembly in Mizpeh `{{H4709}}`, which resulted in a harsh judgment against them [[Judges 21:8-10]]. However, four hundred young virgins `{{H1330}}` from the city were spared and given as wives `{{H802}}` to the surviving men of Benjamin `{{H1144}}` [[Judges 21:12]]. Later, the city faced annihilation by Nahash `{{H5176}}` the Ammonite `{{H5984}}` but was rescued by Saul `{{H7586}}`, who brought them help `{{H8668}}` ([[1 Samuel 11:1]], 9). This act forged a deep bond of loyalty; after Saul's death, the valiant men of Jabesh-gilead risked their lives to retrieve his body from the wall of Beth-shan `{{H1052}}`, burying his bones `{{H6106}}` under a tree `{{H815}}` in Jabesh [[1 Samuel 31:12-13]]. This kindness `{{H2617}}` was acknowledged and blessed by David `{{H1732}}` [[2 Samuel 2:5]]. The name also appears personally, as Shallum `{{H7967}}` the son of Jabesh `{{H3003}}` conspired `{{H7194}}` and briefly reigned `{{H4427}}` in Samaria `{{H8111}}` ([[2 Kings 15:10]], 13).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words and names are essential for understanding the context of **Yâbêsh**:
* `{{H1568}}` **Gilʻâd** (Gilead): A region east of the Jordan. **Yâbêsh** is almost always identified as being within this territory, as "Jabesh-gilead" [[1 Samuel 11:1]].
* `{{H7586}}` **Shâʼûwl** (Saul): The first king of Israel whose rescue of the city from the Ammonites [[1 Samuel 11:5]] led to the inhabitants' profound loyalty, most notably in recovering his body after his death [[1 Samuel 31:12]].
* `{{H1052}}` **Bêyth Shᵉʼân** (Beth-shan): The city where the Philistines `{{H6430}}` hung the bodies of Saul and his sons, from which the men of Jabesh-gilead retrieved them [[2 Samuel 21:12]].
* `{{H7967}}` **Shallûwm** (Shallum): An Israelite identified as the son `{{H1121}}` of **Yâbêsh**, who conspired against the king of Israel and reigned for a month `{{H3391}}` ([[2 Kings 15:10]], 13).
* `{{H5176}}` **Nâchâsh** (Nahash): The Ammonite king who threatened Jabesh-gilead, prompting Saul's first major act as king [[1 Samuel 11:1]].
### Theological Significance
The narrative significance of **Yâbêsh** highlights several key themes in Israel's history:
* **Covenantal Consequences:** The city's failure to join a national assembly led to severe consequences, demonstrating the weight of collective responsibility and oath-keeping within Israel [[Judges 21:9-10]].
* **Exemplary Loyalty:** The actions of the men of Jabesh-gilead toward the fallen King Saul stand as a powerful example of gratitude and faithfulness. They risked their lives to ensure a proper burial for the king who had saved them ([[1 Samuel 31:12-13]], [[1 Chronicles 10:12]]). David himself blessed `{{H1288}}` them for this act [[2 Samuel 2:5]].
* **Source of Preservation:** In a time of national crisis, the virgins `{{H1330}}` from Jabesh-gilead were instrumental in preserving the tribe of Benjamin from extinction [[Judges 21:14]].
* **Political Turmoil:** The use of **Yâbêsh** as a personal name is linked to a period of instability, where Shallum the son of Jabesh usurped the throne through violence, only to be killed shortly after ([[2 Kings 15:10]], 14).
### Summary
In summary, **Yâbêsh** `{{H3003}}` is more than just a place name; it represents a community whose story is marked by dramatic reversals. From being judged for disobedience to becoming a symbol of unwavering loyalty, the people of Jabesh-gilead are central to the narratives of Israel's tribal confederacy and early monarchy. Whether as a city in Gilead or the father of a short-lived king, the name **Yâbêsh** is woven into the fabric of Israel’s complex history of judgment, deliverance, and allegiance.
TRV