Jashobeam
Encyclopedia
Jashobeam also called Josheb-Basshebeth (ˈ; יֹשֵׁב בַּשֶּׁבֶת, Yōšēḇ Baššeḇeṯ; some Septuagint manuscripts "Ish-Bosheth
") and possibly Adino the Eznite (ə; עֲדִינֹו, ʻAdīnō), was chief of the Three Mighty Warriors
and an officer under David
in charge of 24,000 men according to the Second Book of Samuel
(2 Samuel) and the First Book of Chronicles
(1 Chronicles). Jashobeam was a Benjamite
from Hakmon (he is variously called a "Hakmonite" or "Tahkemonite"). His father was Zabdiel, a descendant of Korah
. He was also a descendant of Pharez
of the Tribe of Judah
.
Jashobeam was renowned in the Kingdom of Israel for having singlehandedly killed several hundred troops with his spear (800 according to Samuel, 300 according to Chronicles). However, in 2 Samuel 23:8–17, in a passage describing the Three (Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah
), the Hebrew and most Septuagint manuscripts read, "Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; it was Adino the Eznite[,] who killed eight hundred men in one encounter" (2 Samuel 23:8b). It is unclear textually whether "Adino the Eznite" is meant to refer to someone else apart from the Three (in which case it is out of place in the passage), whether it is another name for Jashobeam, or whether it is a textual corruption.
During a battle with the Philistines
at Ephes Dammim, Jashobeam, along with Eleazar and Shammah, taunted the Philistines. The Israelite army retreated in fear, but the Three defeated the Philistine army themselves in a barley field.
While David was encamped in the Cave of Adullam
on a campaign against the Philistines, who were garrisoned in Bethlehem
, Jashobeam, as part of the Three, broke the Philistine lines to reach a well near Bethlehem's gate to get David a drink. However, David poured the water out as a drink offering
to Yahweh
, saying, "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?"
Ish-bosheth
According to the Hebrew Bible, Ish-bosheth also called Eshbaal , Ashbaal or Ishbaal, was one of the four sons of King Saul, born c. 1047 BC...
") and possibly Adino the Eznite (ə; עֲדִינֹו, ʻAdīnō), was chief of the Three Mighty Warriors
David's Mighty Warriors
David's Mighty Warriors are a group of biblical characters explicitly singled out by an appendix of the Books of Samuel. The text divides them into the "Three", of which there are three, and "Thirty", of which there are more than thirty...
and an officer under David
David
David was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
in charge of 24,000 men according to the Second Book of Samuel
Books of Samuel
The Books of Samuel in the Jewish bible are part of the Former Prophets, , a theological history of the Israelites affirming and explaining the Torah under the guidance of the prophets.Samuel begins by telling how the prophet Samuel is chosen by...
(2 Samuel) and the First Book of Chronicles
Books of Chronicles
The Books of Chronicles are part of the Hebrew Bible. In the Masoretic Text, it appears as the first or last book of the Ketuvim . Chronicles largely parallels the Davidic narratives in the Books of Samuel and the Books of Kings...
(1 Chronicles). Jashobeam was a Benjamite
Tribe of Benjamin
According to the Hebrew Bible, the Tribe of Benjamin בִּנְיָמִין was one of the Tribes of Israel.From after the conquest of the land by Joshua until the formation of the first Kingdom of Israel in c. 1050 BCE, the Tribe of Benjamin was a part of a loose confederation of Israelite tribes...
from Hakmon (he is variously called a "Hakmonite" or "Tahkemonite"). His father was Zabdiel, a descendant of Korah
Korahites
The Korahites in the Bible were that portion of the Kohathites that descended from Korah.They were an important branch of the singers of the Kohathite division...
. He was also a descendant of Pharez
Pharez
According to the Book of Genesis, Pharez/Pיrez was the son of Tamar and of Judah, and was the twin of Zerah. The text argues that he was called Perez because he was the first twin to be born, and thus had breached the womb...
of the Tribe of Judah
Tribe of Judah
According to the Hebrew Bible, the Tribe of Judah was one of the Tribes of Israel.Following the completion of the conquest of Canaan by the Israelite tribes after about 1200 BCE, Joshua allocated the land among the twelve tribes....
.
Jashobeam was renowned in the Kingdom of Israel for having singlehandedly killed several hundred troops with his spear (800 according to Samuel, 300 according to Chronicles). However, in 2 Samuel 23:8–17, in a passage describing the Three (Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah
Shammah
In the Bible, Shammah was the son of Agee, a Haratite, and one of King David's three legendary "mighty men".His greatest deed was the defeat of a troop of Philistines...
), the Hebrew and most Septuagint manuscripts read, "Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; it was Adino the Eznite[,] who killed eight hundred men in one encounter" (2 Samuel 23:8b). It is unclear textually whether "Adino the Eznite" is meant to refer to someone else apart from the Three (in which case it is out of place in the passage), whether it is another name for Jashobeam, or whether it is a textual corruption.
During a battle with the Philistines
Philistines
Philistines , Pleshet or Peleset, were a people who occupied the southern coast of Canaan at the beginning of the Iron Age . According to the Bible, they ruled the five city-states of Gaza, Askelon, Ashdod, Ekron and Gath, from the Wadi Gaza in the south to the Yarqon River in the north, but with...
at Ephes Dammim, Jashobeam, along with Eleazar and Shammah, taunted the Philistines. The Israelite army retreated in fear, but the Three defeated the Philistine army themselves in a barley field.
While David was encamped in the Cave of Adullam
Cave of Adullam
The Cave of Adullam was originally a stronghold referred to in the Old Testament, near the town of Adullam, in which David, already anointed to succeed Saul as king, sought refuge from the latter . The word "cave" is usually used but "fortress", which has a similar appearance in writing, is used as...
on a campaign against the Philistines, who were garrisoned in Bethlehem
Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank of the Jordan River, near Israel and approximately south of Jerusalem, with a population of about 30,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate of the Palestinian National Authority and a hub of Palestinian culture and tourism...
, Jashobeam, as part of the Three, broke the Philistine lines to reach a well near Bethlehem's gate to get David a drink. However, David poured the water out as a drink offering
Drink offering
The drink offering was a form of libation forming one of the sacrifices and offerings of the Law of Moses.-Etymology:The Hebrew noun nesek is formed from the Qal form of the verb nasak, "to pour," hence "thing poured." The verb and the noun frequently come together, such as nasak et-nesek,...
to Yahweh
Yahweh
Yahweh is the name of God in the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jews and Christians.The word Yahweh is a modern scholarly convention for the Hebrew , transcribed into Roman letters as YHWH and known as the Tetragrammaton, for which the original pronunciation is unknown...
, saying, "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?"
See also
- David's Mighty WarriorsDavid's Mighty WarriorsDavid's Mighty Warriors are a group of biblical characters explicitly singled out by an appendix of the Books of Samuel. The text divides them into the "Three", of which there are three, and "Thirty", of which there are more than thirty...
- Eleazar the Ahohite
- Shammah the HarariteShammahIn the Bible, Shammah was the son of Agee, a Haratite, and one of King David's three legendary "mighty men".His greatest deed was the defeat of a troop of Philistines...