Location
Overview
Jabesh-gilead, east of the Jordan, is bound to King Saul at both the beginning and the end of his reign — a story of rescue repaid by loyalty.
Saul's first victory
When Nahash the Ammonite besieged Jabesh and demanded to put out every man's right eye, the Spirit of God came on Saul; he mustered Israel and crushed the Ammonites, delivering the city (1 Samuel 11:1–11). The victory confirmed his kingship.
Loyalty repaid
Years later, when the Philistines fastened the bodies of Saul and his sons to the wall of Beth-shean, "all the valiant men" of Jabesh-gilead marched all night, took down the bodies, and gave them honourable burial (1 Samuel 31:11–13). David blessed them for their kindness (2 Samuel 2:4–7).
A town of the judges too
Jabesh-gilead also figures earlier, in the tribal war over Benjamin (Judges 21:8–14).
Events Here
Saul rescues Jabesh-gilead from Nahash the Ammonite
The men of Jabesh-gilead recover and bury Saul's body
Scripture References
21 versesJudges5 verses
Judges 21:8
And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.
Judges 21:9
For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there.
Judges 21:10
And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.
Judges 21:12
And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan. young: Heb. young women virgins
Judges 21:14
And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabeshgilead: and yet so they sufficed them not.
1 Samuel8 verses
1 Samuel 11:1
Then 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.
1 Samuel 11:3
And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' 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. Give: Heb. Forbear us
1 Samuel 11:5
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.
1 Samuel 11:9
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. help: or, deliverance
1 Samuel 11:10
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.
1 Samuel 31:11
And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; of that: or, concerning him that
1 Samuel 31:12
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.
1 Samuel 31:13
And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
2 Samuel3 verses
2 Samuel 2:4
And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.
2 Samuel 2:5
And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.
2 Samuel 21:12
And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:
2 Kings3 verses
2 Kings 15:10
And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
2 Kings 15:13
Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria. Uzziah: Gr. Ozias a full: Heb. a month of days
2 Kings 15:14
For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
1 Chronicles2 verses
1 Chronicles 10:11
And when all Jabeshgilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,
1 Chronicles 10:12
They arose, all the valiant men, 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.
Archaeology & History
Jabesh-gilead lay in the highlands east of the Jordan, usually placed in the Wadi Yabis region of modern Jordan, which preserves the ancient name. Its position across the river from Beth-shean explains how its men could recover Saul's body under cover of night.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Jabesh-gilead
Where is Jabesh-gilead today?
Today, Jabesh-gilead corresponds to Wadi Yabis area, Jordan.
What does the name Jabesh-gilead mean?
The name Jabesh-gilead means “Dry (place) of Gilead”.
What happened at Jabesh-gilead in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Jabesh-gilead include saul rescues jabesh-gilead from nahash the ammonite; the men of jabesh-gilead recover and bury saul's body.
Where is Jabesh-gilead first mentioned in the Bible?
Jabesh-gilead is first mentioned in Judges 21:8.
How often is Jabesh-gilead mentioned in the Bible?
Jabesh-gilead is mentioned in 21 verses across 5 books: Judges, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles.
Why did Saul rescue Jabesh-gilead?
The Ammonite king Nahash besieged it and threatened to gouge out every man’s right eye; Saul, newly chosen king, gathered Israel and defeated the Ammonites, confirming his reign.
How did Jabesh-gilead honour Saul?
After Saul and his sons died on Gilboa and were hung on the wall of Beth-shean, the men of Jabesh-gilead recovered the bodies by night and buried them honourably.