Introduction:
Tob, also referred to as Ish-Tob, is a region and a group of people mentioned in the Old Testament. The name "Tob" means "good" or "pleasant" in Hebrew. This area is significant in biblical history, particularly in the narratives involving Jephthah and King David. Tob is located east of the Jordan River, in the region of Gilead, and is associated with the land of Ammon.

Biblical References:

1. Jephthah and the Land of Tob:
The most notable mention of Tob is in the account of Jephthah, a judge of Israel. Jephthah was the son of Gilead and a harlot, and because of his illegitimate birth, he was driven away by his half-brothers. He fled to the land of Tob, where he gathered a group of adventurers around him. This is recorded in Judges 11:3: "So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a group of adventurers gathered around him and followed him."

Later, when the Ammonites waged war against Israel, the elders of Gilead sought Jephthah's help, recognizing his leadership and military prowess. Jephthah's time in Tob was formative, as it was there that he developed the skills and following that would later enable him to lead Israel to victory over the Ammonites.

2. David and the People of Tob:
Tob is also mentioned in the context of King David's reign. When David sought to show kindness to Hanun, the son of Nahash, king of the Ammonites, his gesture was misinterpreted, leading to conflict. The Ammonites hired mercenaries from various regions, including Tob, to fight against David. This is detailed in 2 Samuel 10:6: "When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zobah, as well as the king of Maacah with a thousand men, and twelve thousand men from Tob."

The involvement of the men of Tob in this conflict highlights the region's strategic importance and its capacity to muster a significant fighting force. David's eventual victory over these combined forces further solidified his rule and demonstrated the futility of opposing God's anointed king.

Geographical and Historical Context:
Tob's exact location is not definitively known, but it is generally considered to be in the northeastern part of Gilead, near the border of modern-day Jordan and Syria. The region was likely a semi-independent area, inhabited by a mix of peoples, including Israelites and Arameans. Its mention alongside other significant regions and peoples of the time suggests that Tob was a place of some influence and military capability.

Cultural and Theological Significance:
The narrative of Jephthah and the people of Tob underscores themes of redemption and divine providence. Despite being an outcast, Jephthah's leadership and faith in God led to his rise as a judge and deliverer of Israel. The account illustrates how God can use unlikely individuals and places to fulfill His purposes.

In the context of David's reign, the involvement of Tob in the conflict with the Ammonites serves as a reminder of the political complexities of the ancient Near East and the challenges faced by Israel in maintaining its sovereignty and faithfulness to God amidst surrounding hostile nations.2 Samuel 16:6,8
And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
Nave's Topical Index

'More than Conquerors through Him'
... in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah ... started
into prominence under its king Hadar- ezer, as he is called in this ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/more than conquerors through him.htm

Persistency in Wrong Doing.
... foot soldiers, and of King Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-tob twelve thousand
men ... There was a good old bishop of Alexandria called John the Almsgiver, and he ...
/.../xliii persistency in wrong doing.htm

Who was Jephthah? | GotQuestions.org

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