Jabez

A descendant of Judah, whose high distinction among his brethren seems to have been owing to his prevalence in prayer, 1Ch 4:9-10 \par

Ja’bez. (sorrow).

1. Apparently, a place at which the families of the scribes resided, who belonged to the families of the Kenites. 1Ch 2:55.

2. The name occurs again in the genealogies of Judah, 1Ch 4:9-10, in a passage of remarkable detail, inserted in a genealogy again connected with Bethlehem. 1Ch 4:4.

("sorrowful".) In the genealogy connected with Bethlehem his name is explained by the sorrow with which his mother bore him; also by his prayer "that evil might not grieve him," i.e., though his name expressed sorrow, that God would preserve him from it. His prayer is one of the most comprehensive in the Bible, and shines forth like a brilliant star in the midst of a genealogical catalog of names; probably offered in setting out in life, an admirable model for youths.

"Oh that Thou wouldest bless me indeed (God alone knows what is not only seemingly, but indeed, good for us, not earthly shadows but heavenly realities, and all things here that tend toward them) and enlarge my coast," not merely in temporal but in spiritual interests (1Ki 4:29; Psa 18:19; Psa 31:8; Psa 118:5), "and that Thine hand might be with me (as ’the hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him’: Ezr 8:18; Ezr 8:22; Ezr 7:6; Ezr 7:9), and that Thou wouldest keep me from evil," etc. (Mat 6:13; Joh 17:15; Luk 22:40; Luk 22:46; 1Co 10:13; 2Pe 2:9; Rev 3:10).

Evil may assail, but cannot finally "grieve," the believer. Jabez, the son of sorrow, by prayerful faith inherited joy in the end (Mat 5:4; Psa 90:15; Heb 12:11). Prayer was the secret of his being "more honourable than his brethren" (1Sa 2:30). His name may have been given to the city Jabez, famed for its scribes. The abrupt mention of him shows he was a man of note when Ezra wrote Chronicles. His prayer was to "the God of Israel" with whom Jacob wrestled in prayer, and "by his strength had power with God" (Hos 12:3-4), and so got the new name "Israel." "God granted" him according to the faith of his request (Eph 3:20; Mat 9:29).

[Ja’bez]

1. City in which the various families of the scribes dwelt. 1Ch 2:55. Not identified.

2. A descendant of Judah, said to be more honourable than his brethren. He prayed to the God of Israel that He would bless him, and enlarge his border; that God’s hand might be with him, and keep him from evil that it might not grieve him. God granted that which he requested. 1Ch 4:9-10. It is a beautiful instance of individual faith, which rose to the privileges of God’s earthly people, and counted on the God of Israel.

By: Emil G. Hirsch, Kaufmann Kohler

Eponym of a clan of the Kenite family of the Rechabites, which clan was merged into the tribe of Judah. I Chron. ii. 55 refers to "families of scribes" ("soferim") dwelling at Jabez; while in another passage (ib. iv. 9-10) Jabez is described as "more honorable than his brethren." His name (Ya'beẓ) is derived from his mother's saying: "I bare him with sorrow" ("'oẓeb"). Another explanation is (ib. iv. 10, Hebr.): "Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, 'If Thou wilt bless me and enlarge my boundary, and Thine hand be with me, and Thou wilt give me friendships that will not grieve me [an allusion to "'eẓeb"] then' [the concluding words are omitted in the text; see the commentaries to iv. 10]. And God granted him that which he requested."

Jabez was prominent, particularly after the Exile, among those Kenite clans that embraced Judaism, becoming scribes and teachers of the Law. Rabbinical tradition identifies Jabez with Othniel the Kenezite, the head of the bet ha-midrash after the death of Moses (Tem. 16a; Targ. to I Chron. ii. 55, iv. 9). Hence the vow of Jabez was understood to refer to his schoolhouse: "If Thou wilt bless me with children, and give me many disciples and associates," etc. (Tem. l.c.; Sanh. 106a). "The whole tribe ofJethro, the Kenites as well as the Rechabites, left their habitations near Jericho and went to Jabez to learn the Torah from him" (Mek., Yitro, 'Amaleḳ, ii.; Sifre, Num. 78).

In the Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch (v. 5) Jabez is mentioned together with Jeremiah and Gedaliah among the saintly leaders of the people at the destruction of the Temple, being one of the deathless frequently mentioned in rabbinical tradition (Massek. Derek Ereẓ i.; see "J. Q. R." v. 417 et seq.).

JABEZ.—1. A city in Judah occupied by scribes, the descendants of Caleb (1Ch 2:55). 2. A man of the family of Judah, noted for his ‘honourable’ character (1Ch 4:9 ff.); called Ya’bçts, which is rendered as if it stood for Ya’tsçb, ‘he causes pain.’ In his vow (1Ch 4:10) there is again a play upon his name.

W. Ewing.

jā´bez (יעבּץ, ya‛bēc, “sorrow” (“height”)):

(1) Place: An unidentified town probably in the territory of Judah, occupied by scribes (1Ch 2:55). For an ingenious reconstruction of the passage see EB, under the word

(2) Person: The head of a family of Judah, noted for his “honorable” character, though “his mother bare him with sorrow” (1Ch 4:9, 1Ch 4:10), ya‛bēc being interpreted as if it stood for ya‛cēbh, “he causes pain.” The same play upon words recurs in his prayer, “that it be not to my sorrow!” His request was granted, “and the sorrow implied by his ominous name was averted by prayer” (Dummelow, in the place cited.).