after Ishmael did assassinate Gedaliah, pursued him and recovered those he had taken prisoner. (Jer. 40:13, 14; 41:11-16) Jezaniah was among those leaders who inquired of Jeremiah concerning what to do then, but rather than follow his advice, they led the few remaining ones down to Egypt. (2 Ki. 25:26; Jer. 42:1-3, 8; 43:1-5) “Azariah the son of Hoshaiah” is possibly a brother of, but more likely the same as, Jaazaniah.—Jer. 43:2.

JAAZIAH

(Ja·a·ziʹah) [Jehovah strengthens].

A Merarite Levite, four of whose sons or descendants served during David’s reign.—1 Chron. 24:26, 27, 31.

JAAZIEL

(Ja·aʹzi·el) [God strengthens].

A Levite musician in the second division that accompanied the ark of the covenant when it was transferred from Obed-edom’s house to Jerusalem. (1 Chron. 15:18) In verse 20 he is called Aziel. According to 1 Chronicles 16:5, where he is called Jeiel (the first “Jeiel” in that verse), he was afterward assigned to regular duty as a musician before the Ark.

JABAL

(Jaʹbal) [water ditch].

A descendant of Cain; son of Lamech and his first wife Adah. (Gen. 4:17, 19, 20) Jabal is called “the founder of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.” Jabal was not the first shepherd, for Abel had been one previously; but Jabal evidently began or was predominant in nomadic livestock raising as a way of life. He perhaps invented tents, which would be much easier to move than permanent dwellings when a certain pasturage gave out.

JABBOK, TORRENT VALLEY OF

(Jabʹbok).

One of the main rivers, E of the Jordan, first mentioned in Scripture with reference to Jacob’s crossing “the ford of Jabbok” with his household. Also, near this ford Jacob grappled with an angel.—Gen. 32:22-30.

Though the Jabbok’s headwaters rise near Amman (ancient Rabbah), the river collects waters from several perennial streams and numerous winter torrents before flowing into the Jordan some twenty-four miles (c. 39 kilometers) N of the Dead Sea. Only about twenty-five air miles (c. 40 kilometers) separate the river’s source from its finish. But the Jabbok’s semicircular course covers some sixty miles (c. 97 kilometers). Its modern Arabic name, Nahr ez-Zerka, literally means “river of blue.” Perhaps this name is derived from the gray-blue color that the Jabbok exhibits when seen from a distance. Small fish abound in its shallow, easily fordable waters.

Oleander bushes and many kinds of small trees line the deep fertile valley through which the Jabbok flows. This valley, with its steep sides, served as a natural boundary. (Deut. 3:16) The first section of the torrent valley, running from S to N, once constituted a frontier between the Ammonites and the Amorites (Num. 21:24), whereas the section extending from W to E split Gilead in two and formed the boundary between the realms of Amorite Kings Sihon and Og. (Deut. 2:37; Josh. 12:2; Judg. 11:13, 22) Today this same valley is one of the best routes for crossing the Jordan from what was anciently called Gilead.

JABESH

(Jaʹbesh) [dry].

1. A town in the northern section of Gilead. Also known as Jabesh-gilead, it is mentioned in the history of the judges and kings.—Judg. 21:8; 1 Sam. 11:1; 1 Chron. 10:11, 12; see JABESH-GILEAD.

2. Father of Israel’s King Shallum.—2 Ki. 15:10, 13, 14.

JABESH-GILEAD

(Jaʹbesh-gilʹe·ad).

An ancient town in the tribal territory of Gad E of the Jordan. Its exact location is not certain, although most scholars agree that it was in the vicinity of the river Yabis (Jebesh), about twenty-two air miles (c. 35 kilometers) S of the Sea of Galilee. Some think it was about two miles (c. 3 kilometers) E of the Jordan on the adjoining sites of Tell Abu Kharaz and Tell el-Meqbereh. Others assign it to other locations five or six miles (c. 8 or 10 kilometers) farther E between Pella and Gerasa, either at Tell el-Maqlub on the N side of the Wadi Yabis or at ed-Deir on the S side.

The first mention of Jabesh-gilead was in the days of the judges, in connection with the retribution dealt out to the neighboring tribe of Benjamin for its condoning of gross immorality. (Judg. 21:8) On that occasion when the Israelites practically exterminated the entire tribe of Benjamin (only 600 males escaped), it was found that not a man of Jabesh-gilead had participated in meting out this justified punishment. It was therefore determined that every man, woman and child of Jabesh-gilead, with the exception of the virgins, should be put to death. The 400 virgins that were thus spared were then given as wives to the fugitive Benjamites so as to prevent extinction of the tribe.—Judg. 20:1–21:14.

Some three centuries later, when all Israel was clamoring for a visible king like the other nations had, the Ammonites threatened to bore out the right eye of every male inhabitant of Jabesh-gilead, a threat that was removed only when Saul mustered a force of 330,000 and put the Ammonites to flight. (1 Sam. 11:1-15) Forty years later the Philistines defeated the Israelites and hung the decapitated bodies of Saul and his three sons on the wall of the public square inside Beth-shan. Upon hearing of this disgrace, valiant men of Jabesh-gilead made a daring night raid in which they removed the corpses, brought them to Jabesh-gilead, burned the bodies and gave the bones a respectful burial. They then fasted for seven days.—1 Sam. 31:8-13; 1 Chron. 10:8-12.

David, as the newly anointed king of Judah, sent commendations and blessing to the citizens of Jabesh-gilead for having extended loving-kindness in this way toward the fallen anointed one of Israel. (2 Sam. 2:4-7) Later, David had the bones of Saul and Jonathan brought from Jabesh-gilead and interred in Saul’s family burial plot in Benjamite territory.—2 Sam. 21:12-14.

JABEZ

(Jaʹbez) [he gives pain (or sorrow); apparently from Hebrew ʽa·tsavʹ (to pain or distress)].

1. A descendant of Judah named Jabez by his mother because of her pain in giving birth to him. Jabez proved himself to be more honorable than his brothers and, in answer to his prayer, experienced Jehovah’s blessing and protection.—1 Chron. 4:1, 9, 10.

2. Apparently a Judean site, perhaps founded by No. 1 above. Jabez was the home of three families of scribes. (1 Chron. 2:55) Its exact location is today unknown.

JABIN

(Jaʹbin) [one who is intelligent, discerning].

Perhaps a dynastic name or title of the Canaanite kings of Hazor.

1. The king of Hazor when Joshua invaded the Promised Land. Jabin formed a confederation of northern Canaanite kings and these amassed against Israel a force “as numerous as the grains of sand . . . [including] very many horses and war chariots.” When camped at the waters of Merom, their combined armies were defeated by Joshua’s surprise attack and follow-up pursuit. Jabin was executed when Hazor itself was later captured and burned.—Josh. 11:1-14; 12:7, 19.

2. A later Canaanite king ruling from the restored Hazor; possibly a descendant of No. 1 above. Jabin’s being called “the king of Canaan” might denote supremacy over the other Canaanite kings, granting him exceptional power and authority; it does appear that there were others at least allied with him. On the other hand, the expression might merely distinguish him from kings of other lands. Jabin’s army, including nine hundred chariots with iron