Bible Dictionaries
Jashobeam

Holman Bible Dictionary

(juh sshoh' bih am) Personal name meaning, “the uncle (or people) will return.” Warrior of Saul's tribe of Benjamin who supported David at Ziklag as he fled from Saul (1 Chronicles 12:6 ). He is listed first among the “chief of the mighty men whom David had” (1 Chronicles 11:11 ). Some interpreters would say the text listed him as a Hachmonite, while others would see “a Hachmonite” as reference to a different individual. 2 Samuel 23:8 spells the name Josheb-basshebeth (see modern translations), the last part of which represents the Hebrew word for shame, at times used by scribes instead of an original name containing the Canaanite god's name Baal, leading some interpreters to see the original name here as Yishbaal. Some Greek manuscripts actually read Ishbaal. In 2 Samuel 23:8 , REB reads Ishbaal. KJV simply translates there: “that sat in the seat.” Jashobeam commanded David's first course or division administering the kingdom for the first month of each year (1 Chronicles 27:2 ). Here Jashobeam is the son of Zabdiel, a descendant of Perez who belonged to the tribe of Judah. Elsewhere Jashobeam is a member of the clan of Hachmon. See Hachmonites.