Places in the Bible Today:

Jabesh-gilead

Data

Translated NamesJabesh, Jabesh-Gilead, Jabesh-gilead, Jabesh Gilead
Typesettlement
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

3 Possible Identifications

  1. Tell el Maqlub (modern): 70% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Tell el MaqlubTell el Maqlub

  2. Tell Abu el Kharaz (modern): 20% confidence

    1. artifact of a type typically found at Tell Abu el KharazTell Abu el Kharaz

  3. Tall al Meqbarah (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Tall al MeqbarahTall al Meqbarah

Verses (20)

Josh-Ruth (6)
Judg 21:8, 21:9, 21:10, 21:12, 21:14, 21:22
1Sam-Esth (14)
1Sam 10:27, 11:1, 11:3, 11:5, 11:9, 11:10, 31:11, 31:12, 31:13
2Sam 2:4, 2:5, 21:12
1Chr 10:11, 10:12

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Biblemapper.com537
Logos FactbookJabesh-Gilead
OpenBible.info (2007)Jabesh, Jabesh-gilead
OpenBible.infoaf92088 (Jabesh-gilead)
TIPNRJabesh-gilead@Jdg.21.8
UBS Names Databaseot ID_1232
WikidataQ2905361

Sources

  1. Aharoni, Land of the Bible (1979): page 437
  2. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992): Jabesh-gilead (place)
  3. Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2013): Jabesh Gilead
  4. Baly, Atlas of the Biblical World (1971): Jabesh-gilead
  5. Carta Bible Atlas, 5th Edition (2011)
  6. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000): Jabesh-Gilead
  7. ESV Bible Atlas (2010)
  8. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (1984): 1Sam 11:1
  9. Gordon, I and II Samuel (1986): 1Sam 11:1
  10. Grollenberg, Atlas of the Bible (1957): page 65
  11. Hammond Atlas of the Bible Lands (2007): Jabesh-gilead
  12. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (2011): Jabesh-gilead
  13. HarperCollins Concise Atlas of the Bible (1991)
  14. Holman Illustrated Guide to Bible Geography (2020): page 257
  15. IVP Atlas of Bible History (2006): Jabesh-gilead
  16. IVP Old Testament Bible Background Commentary (2000): Judg 1:4; Judg 21:8-12
  17. Lexham Bible Dictionary (2016): Jabesh-gilead
  18. New Bible Dictionary (1996): Jabesh-gilead
  19. New Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary (2009)
  20. New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (1988)
  21. Oxford Bible Atlas, Fourth Edition (2007)
  22. Reader’s Digest Atlas of the Bible (1981): Jabesh-gilead
  23. Schlegel, Satellite Bible Atlas (2016): Jabesh-gilead
  24. Tyndale Bible Dictionary (2001): Jabesh, Jabesh-gilead (Place)
  25. Tübingen Bible Atlas (2001): Yabes Gilad
  26. Westminster Historical Atlas to the Bible (1956): Jabesh-gilead
  27. Zondervan Atlas of the Bible (2010)
  28. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)
  29. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (2009): Judg 21:8; 1Sam 11:1
  30. Zondervan Pictorial Bible Atlas (1972): page 88

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others (in this case, Tell el Maqlub), then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Thumbnail Image Credits

Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019, Hanay

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.