### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term **ʼÎysh-Ṭôwb**, represented by `{{H382}}`, is a proper name meaning **man of Tob**. It appears **2 times** in **2 unique verses** in the Bible. The name identifies **Ish-Tob**, a place in Palestine.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H382}}` appears exclusively in the context of a military conflict between the Ammonites and the kingdom of David. When the children of Ammon prepared for war, they hired soldiers from surrounding regions. Ish-Tob is listed as one of these regions, providing twelve thousand men for the battle [[2 Samuel 10:6]]. Subsequently, the forces of **Ishtob** are mentioned as being arrayed for battle in the field, separate from the Ammonite soldiers who were at the city gate [[2 Samuel 10:8]].
### Related Words & Concepts
The name **ʼÎysh-Ṭôwb** itself is composed of two Hebrew words. Its usage in the narrative connects it to other key terms:
* `{{H376}}` **ʼîysh** (a man as an individual or a male person): This word, forming the first part of the name, is also used to describe the soldiers from Ish-Tob, referred to as "twelve thousand **men**" [[2 Samuel 10:6]].
* `{{H1121}}` **bên** (a son): This term is used to identify David's primary antagonists in the conflict, the "**children** of Ammon," who hired the men of Ish-Tob [[2 Samuel 10:6]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H382}}` is primarily historical and geographical, rather than theological. It serves to detail the scope and nature of the opposition against David.
* **Military Alliance:** The mention of **Ishtob** illustrates the political alliances the Ammonites were able to form, gathering a multinational force to confront Israel [[2 Samuel 10:6]].
* **Narrative Specificity:** The inclusion of **Ishtob**, along with the specific number of its soldiers, adds a layer of historical detail to the account, grounding the conflict in a specific time and place.
* **Component of Opposition:** The men of **Ishtob** represent a significant portion of the enemy army, highlighting the magnitude of the threat that David's forces had to overcome [[2 Samuel 10:8]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H382}}` **ʼÎysh-Ṭôwb** is not a common noun but the proper name of a location, **Ish-Tob**. Its two appearances in Scripture are confined to a single historical event, where it is identified as a source of mercenary soldiers hired to fight against King David. The term's importance lies in its contribution to the narrative detail of the battle recorded in 2 Samuel, defining one of the specific factions aligned against Israel.
TRV