Topical Encyclopedia
Introduction:Tob is a location mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the context of the narrative of Jephthah, a judge of Israel. It is a region that holds historical and theological significance within the biblical narrative, particularly in the Book of Judges.
Biblical References:The primary reference to Tob is found in the Book of Judges. In
Judges 11:3 , it is recorded: "So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a group of adventurers gathered around him and followed him." This passage highlights Tob as a place of refuge and gathering for Jephthah, who would later become a significant leader and judge over Israel.
Historical Context:Tob is believed to be located east of the Jordan River, in the region of Gilead. It was likely a semi-autonomous area during the time of the Judges, inhabited by various groups, including outcasts and adventurers. The geographical and political setting of Tob provided a suitable environment for Jephthah to assemble a band of followers, which played a crucial role in his rise to leadership.
Theological Significance:The narrative of Jephthah and his association with Tob underscores themes of redemption and divine providence. Despite being rejected by his family due to his illegitimate birth, Jephthah finds a place in Tob where he can establish himself as a leader. This reflects the biblical motif of God using unlikely individuals and circumstances to fulfill His purposes. Jephthah's eventual leadership and victory over the Ammonites demonstrate God's sovereignty and the deliverance He provides to His people through unexpected means.
Cultural and Social Aspects:Tob's mention in the context of Jephthah's account also sheds light on the social dynamics of ancient Israel. The gathering of "adventurers" around Jephthah suggests a society where individuals outside the traditional family or tribal structures could still find purpose and community. This aspect of Tob as a haven for the marginalized resonates with the broader biblical theme of God's concern for the outcast and His ability to bring about transformation and leadership from unexpected quarters.
Conclusion:While Tob is not frequently mentioned in the Bible, its role in the account of Jephthah provides valuable insights into the historical, theological, and social dimensions of the biblical narrative. The account of Jephthah's time in Tob serves as a reminder of God's redemptive work through individuals and places that might otherwise be overlooked.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Tobgood; goodness
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Tob(good),The land of, a place in which Jephthah took refuge when expelled from home by his half-brother, (Judges 11:3) and where he remained, at the head of a band of freebooters, till he was brought back by the sheikhs of Gilead. ver. 5. The narrative implies that the land of Tob was not far distant from Gilead; at the same time, from the nature of the case it must have lain out toward the eastern deserts. It is undoubtedly mentioned again in (2 Samuel 10:6,8) as Ishtob, i.e.man of Tob , meaning, according to a common Hebrew idiom, the men of Tob. After a long interval it appears again, in the Maccabaean history, 1 Macc. 5:13, in the names Tobie and Tubieni. 2 Macc. 12:17. No identification of the ancient, district with any modern one has yet been attempted.
ATS Bible Dictionary
TobA district beyond Jordan, where Jephthah took refuge when expelled from Gilead, Jud 11:3,5. Its location is not known.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Tob, The land of
A district on the east of Jodan, about 13 miles south-east of the Sea of Galilee, to which Jephthah fled from his brethren (Judges 11:3, 5). It was on the northern boundary of Perea, between Syria and the land of Ammon (2 Samuel 10:6, 8). Its modern name is Taiyibeh.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
TOB, THE LAND OFtob, tob ('erets Tobh, "a good land"; ge Tob): Hither Jephthah escaped from his brethren after his father's death (Judges 11:3), and perfected himself in the art of war, making forays with "the vain fellows" who joined him. Here the elders of Gilead found him, when, reduced to dire straits by the children of Ammon, they desired him to take command of their army (Jsg 11:5;). This country contributed 12,000 men to the forces of the allies, who with the Ammonites were defeated by Israel (2 Samuel 10:8). In 1 Maccabees 5:13 we read of the land of Tubins where the Jews, about 1,000 men, were slain by the Gentiles, their wives and children being carried into captivity. The Tubieni, "men of Tobit" of 2 Maccabees 12:17, were probably from this place. Ptolemy (v.19) speaks of Thauba, a place to the Southwest of Zobah, which may possibly be Tobit. The Talmud (Neubauer, Geog. du Talmud, 239) identifies the land of Tobit with the district of Hippene. Tobit would then be represented by Hippos, modern Susiyeh, to the Southwest of Fiq on the plateau East of the Sea of Galilee. Perhaps the most likely identification is that supported by G. A. Smith (HGHL, 587), with eT-Taiyibeh, 10 miles South of Umm Qeis (Gadara). The name is the same in meaning as Tobit.
W. Ewing
Greek
4598. setobrotos -- moth-eaten... moth-eaten. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: setobrotos Phonetic Spelling:
(say-
tob'-ro-tos) Short Definition: moth-eaten Definition: moth-eaten.
...711. Aristoboulos -- "best-counseling," Aristobulus, a Christian...
... "best-counseling," Aristobulus, a Christian at Rome. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Aristoboulos Phonetic Spelling: (ar-is-tob'-oo-los) Short...
Strong's Hebrew
2897.Tob -- a region East of the Jordan... 2896b, 2897.
Tob. 2898 . a region East of the Jordan. Transliteration:
Tob Phonetic Spelling: (tobe) Short Definition:
Tob. Word
...382a. ish-Tob -- "men ofTob," inhab. of a region East of the...
ish-Tob. 382, 382a. ish-Tob. 382b . "men ofTob," inhab. of a region East
of the Jordan. Transliteration: ish-Tob Short Definition:Tob....
382. Iysh-Towb -- "men ofTob," inhab. of a region East of the...
... "men ofTob," inhab. of a region East of the Jordan. Transliteration: Iysh-Towb
Phonetic Spelling: (eesh-tobe') Short Definition: Ish-tob. Ish-tob...
2896b.tob -- a good thing, benefit, welfare
... 2896a, 2896b.tob. 2897 . a good thing, benefit, welfare. Transliteration:
tob Short Definition: good.... 2896a, 2896b.tob. 2897 . Strong's Numbers.
2899a.Tob Adoniyyahu -- "good is my LORD," a Levite
Tob Adoniyyahu. 2899, 2899a.Tob Adoniyyahu. 2899b . "good is my LORD," a Levite.
Transliteration:Tob Adoniyyahu Short Definition: Tobadonijah....
2896a.tob -- pleasant, agreeable, good
... 2896, 2896a.tob. 2896b . pleasant, agreeable, good. Transliteration:tob Short
Definition: good.... 2896, 2896a.tob. 2896b . Strong's Numbers.
2895.tob -- to be pleasing or good
... 2894, 2895.tob. 2896 . to be pleasing or good. Transliteration:tob Phonetic
Spelling: (tobe) Short Definition: well.... 2894, 2895.tob. 2896 ....
2899. Towb Adoniyahuw -- "good is my LORD," a Levite
... "good is my LORD," a Levite. Transliteration: Towb Adoniyahuw Phonetic Spelling:
(tobe ado-nee-yah'-hoo) Short Definition:Tob-adonijah.Tob-adonijah...
2870a. Tabeal -- "good for nothing," an Aramean (Syrian)
... Word Origin fromtob and al Definition "good for nothing," an Aramean (Syrian) NASB
Word Usage Tabeel (1). 2870, 2870a. Tabeal. 2870b . Strong's Numbers.
2886. Tabrimmon -- perhaps "Rimmon is good," father of Benhaddad...
... Word Origin perhaps fromtob and Rimmon Definition perhaps "Rimmon is good," father
of Benhaddad, king of Aram (Syria) NASB Word Usage Tabrimmon (1). Tabrimmon....
Library
Adjectives, 62-65
...Tob.10:10 ta hemisu (sic) ton huparchonton.... en hemisei hemeron Ps.101:25. to hemisu
tou haimatos Ex.24:6. to hemisu ton huparchontonTob.8:21. 63. pas....
Date and Place.
... This reference, therefore, undoubted as it is, does not greatly help us in solving
the problem of date, except as to its ad quem limit.Tob....
Jephthah's Foolish Promise
... Jephthah, the Gileadite, was an able warrior, but he was the son of a wicked woman,
and had fled from his relatives and lived in the land ofTob....
After Saying a Few Words About Tobit He Demonstrates that Raguel...
... daughter's future is than some mere money affair. Footnotes: [708]Tob.
ii. 4. [709]Tob. vii. 11. [710] Cic. de Off. III. 13....
Prepositions, 89-98
...Tob.5:5 poreuthenai en Rhagois. Cp.Tob.6:6, 9:2. So in NT ". 2 Cor.8:16 charis
de to Theo to didonti ten auten spouden huper humon en te kardia Titou....
Nouns, 1-14
... The shorter form is common in the Papyri. hupseia (Tob.8:21) for hugieia.... sigeros
Prov.18:18, Sir.26:14 only. klepsimaiosTob.2:13 only....
Whether the Angels Exercise Functions of Life in the Bodies...
... it was said (Gn.18:16) that "Abraham walked with" the angels, who had appeared to
him, "bringing them on the way"; and when Tobias said to the angel (Tob.5:7,8...
Appendices
... V. THE LETTERS OF EBEB-TOB (OR EBED KHEBA), VASSAL KING OF JERUSALEM, TO
AMENOPHIS IV., KING OF EGYPT. I. "To the king my lord thus...
Verbs, 72-84
... Josh.7:22 en enkekrummena. 2 Chr.5:8 en diapepetakota.Tob.6:18 hetoimasmene en.
Is.20:6 emen pepoithotes.... O 5:5. en auto to kairoTob.3:17. Cp. Lk.13:1. 87....
Conjunctions, 99-111
... also Gen.17:17, 39:8, 43:27: Ex.2:14: Jdg.13:11: 1 K. 1 Sam.] 9:11, 10:22,24;
14:37, 45; 15:22: 3 K. [2 Kings} 13:14, 18:17: 4 K. [2 Kings] 1:3:Tob.5:5: Jonah...
Thesaurus
Tob (5 Occurrences)... Easton's Bible Dictionary
Tob, The land of. A district on the
... Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia.
TOB, THE LAND OF.
tob,
tob ('erets Tobh
...Ish-tob (2 Occurrences)
Ish-tob. Ishtob, Ish-tob. Ishua . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ISH-TOB. ish'-tob ('ish Tobh, the American Standard...
Tob-adonijah (1 Occurrence)
Tob-adonijah. Tobadonijah,Tob-adonijah. Tobadoni'jah . Easton's Bible
Dictionary... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.TOB-ADONIJAH....
Ishtob (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Man ofTob, one of the small Syrian kingdoms which together
constituted Aram (2 Samuel 10:6, 8).... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ISH-TOB....
Tobadonijah (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.TOB-ADONIJAH.tob-ad-o-ni'-ja,tob-(Tobh
'adhoniyah, "good is the Lord"; Codex Vaticanus Tobadobeia...
Jephthah (26 Occurrences)
... of time the children of Ammon made war against Israel" (11:5). In their distress
the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land ofTob, to which...
Bene-ammon (44 Occurrences)
... Judges 11:5 and it cometh to pass, when the Bene-Ammon have fought with Israel,
that the elders of Gilead go to take Jephthah from the land ofTob; (YLT)....
Land (19790 Occurrences)
... See article "China," Encyclopedia Brittanica (11th edition), 188b. W. Ewing.
TOB, THE LAND OF.tob,tob ('erets Tobh, "a good land...
Syrians (63 Occurrences)
... times was Aram-dammesek, the Syria of Damascus, which sometimes dominated all of
the other divisions lying to the South, such as Rehob,Tob, Zobah, and Mancab...
Zoba (2 Occurrences)
... the Syrians of Beth Rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and
the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and the men ofTob twelve thousand...
Resources
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