Bible Dictionary
Geshurites
The Geshurites were inhabitants of Geshur, an Aramean kingdom east of the Jordan; the name also identifies a separate people living near the southwestern border of Palestine.
Definition
The Geshurites were, in one usage, inhabitants of Geshur, the Aramean kingdom east of the Jordan. In another usage, the name refers to an aboriginal people living along the southwestern border of Palestine.
Biblical Usage
The eastern Geshurites maintained friendly relations with Israelites east of the Jordan. The other Geshurites are mentioned among the peoples of the southern border and in the account of David’s campaigns.
Historical Background
The two usages refer to different regions: the kingdom near Bashan and a district adjoining the Philistine territory.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) The inhabitants of Geshur. They maintained friendly relations with the Israelites on the east of Jordan (Josh. 12:5; 13:11, 13). (2.) Another aboriginal people of Palestine who inhabited the south-west border of the land. Geshuri in Josh. 13:2 should be “the Geshurite,” not the Geshurites mentioned in ver. 11, 13, but the tribe mentioned in 1 Sam. 27:8.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>gesh'-u-rits, ge-shoo'-rits (geshuri). See preceding article.</p>