The Geshurites were an ancient people mentioned in the Old Testament, primarily associated with the region of Geshur, located in the northeastern part of the land of Israel, near the borders of Bashan and Aram (modern-day Syria). The Geshurites are noted for their interactions with the Israelites during the period of the conquest and the monarchy.

Geographical Location and Historical Context

The land of Geshur was situated east of the Jordan River, in the area that would later be known as the Golan Heights. This region was characterized by its strategic location, serving as a buffer zone between Israel and the powerful Aramean kingdoms to the north. The Geshurites, along with other neighboring tribes, occupied territories that were part of the land promised to the Israelites but were not fully conquered during the initial settlement under Joshua.

Biblical References

The Geshurites are first mentioned in the context of the conquest of Canaan. In Joshua 13:2-3, the land of the Geshurites is listed among the territories that remained unconquered: "This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and the Geshurites." This indicates that the Israelites did not fully subdue the Geshurites during their initial campaigns.

The Geshurites are also mentioned in relation to King David. David had familial ties to Geshur through his marriage to Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. This marriage is recorded in 2 Samuel 3:3: "His second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third was Absalom the son of Maacah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur." This alliance through marriage suggests a political relationship between David and the Geshurites, likely aimed at securing peace and stability in the region.

The most notable interaction between the Israelites and the Geshurites occurred during the rebellion of Absalom, David's son. After killing his half-brother Amnon, Absalom fled to Geshur and stayed there for three years under the protection of his maternal grandfather, Talmai (2 Samuel 13:37-38). This period of refuge highlights the continued independence and influence of the Geshurite kingdom during David's reign.

Cultural and Political Significance

The Geshurites, like many other small kingdoms in the region, played a significant role in the complex political landscape of the ancient Near East. Their interactions with Israel, particularly through marriage alliances, reflect the intricate web of relationships that characterized the era. The Geshurites' ability to maintain their independence despite the expansionist policies of Israel underscores their resilience and strategic importance.

Legacy and Archaeological Evidence

While the biblical narrative provides limited information about the Geshurites, archaeological findings in the Golan Heights and surrounding areas have shed light on the material culture of the region during the Iron Age. These discoveries include fortified cities, inscriptions, and artifacts that suggest a well-established society with connections to neighboring cultures.

In summary, the Geshurites were a significant, though often overlooked, people in the biblical narrative. Their interactions with Israel, particularly during the time of David, highlight the complex dynamics of the ancient Near East and the enduring legacy of these ancient tribes in the biblical history of Israel.

(1.) The inhabitants of Geshur. They maintained friendly relations with the Israelites on the east of Jordan (Joshua 12:5; 13:11, 13).

(2.) Another aboriginal people of Palestine who inhabited the south-west border of the land. Geshuri in Joshua 13:2 should be "the Geshurite," not the Geshurites mentioned in ver. 11, 13, but the tribe mentioned in 1 Samuel 27:8.

GESHURITES

gesh'-u-rits, ge-shoo'-rits (geshuri). See preceding article.

1651. Geshuri -- inhab. of Geshur, also a people South of ...
... inhab. of Geshur, also a people South of Philistia. Transliteration: Geshuri Phonetic
Spelling: (ghe-shoo-ree') Short Definition: Geshurites. ... Geshuri, Geshurites ...
/hebrew/1651.htm - 6k

Making the Best of Trouble
... And David and his men went up and made a raid upon the Geshurites, the Girzites,
and the Amalekites; for these tribes live in the land which extends from Telem ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/making the best of trouble.htm

How David, when He had Twice the Opportunity of Killing Saul did ...
... And now he privately attacked those Geshurites and Amalekites that were neighbors
to the Philistines, and laid waste their country, and took much prey of their ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 how david when.htm

Geshurites (6 Occurrences)
... Geshuri in Joshua 13:2 should be "the Geshurite," not the Geshurites mentioned in
ver. 11, 13, but the tribe mentioned in 1 Samuel 27:8. Int. ...GESHURITES. ...
/g/geshurites.htm - 9k

Geshur (11 Occurrences)
... 2:23). The Geshurites probably inhabited the rocky fastness of Argob, the
modern Lejah, in the north-east corner of Bashan. In the ...
/g/geshur.htm - 13k

Gesh'urites (6 Occurrences)
... Geshurites, Gesh'urites. Gesture . ... Joshua 13:2 This is the land that yet remaineth:
all the regions of the Philistines, and all the Geshurites; (See RSV). ...
/g/gesh'urites.htm - 8k

Geshurite (4 Occurrences)
... Joshua 12:5 and ruled in Mount Hermon, and in Salecah, and in all Bashan, to the
border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and half Gilead, the border of ...
/g/geshurite.htm - 7k

Maachathites (4 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 3:14 Jair the son of Manasseh took the whole region of Argob as far
as the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and called Bashan after his ...
/m/maachathites.htm - 7k

Ma-ac'athites (4 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 3:14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, to the border
of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called them, even Bashan ...
/m/ma-ac'athites.htm - 7k

Maacah (30 Occurrences)
... Revised Version (British and American) "Maacathites"), whose territory was taken
by Jair (Deuteronomy 3:14 Joshua 12:5). The border of the Geshurites and the ...
/m/maacah.htm - 20k

Maacathites (4 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 3:14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, to the border
of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called them, even Bashan ...
/m/maacathites.htm - 8k

Maachathite (7 Occurrences)
... Joshua 12:5 And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto
the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border ...
/m/maachathite.htm - 8k

Geshuri (2 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 3:14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, to the border
of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called them, even Bashan ...
/g/geshuri.htm - 7k

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