Bible Dictionary
Jozabad
Jozabad was the name of several men, including warriors who joined David, Levites serving under Hezekiah or after the exile, and a priest who had married a foreign woman.
Definition
Jozabad, meaning “whom Jehovah bestows,” is the name of several men. They included a Gederathite and Manassite captains who joined David at Ziklag, Levites connected with Hezekiah’s administration and the postexilic community, and a priest who had married a foreign wife.
Biblical Usage
Jozabad appears among David’s recruits, Levites serving in religious administration, returnees from exile, and a priest addressed in the postexilic reforms.
Historical Background
The name is represented by variant forms in parallel records, including Josabad and Josabdus. One bearer may have come from Gedara in southern Judah.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Whom Jehovah bestows. (1.) One of the Benjamite archers who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:4). (2.) A chief of the tribe of Manasseh (1 Chr. 12:20).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(Jehovah justifies).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>joz'-a-bad (yozabhadh, "Yahweh has bestowed"):</p><p>(1) A Gederathite, and one of David's recruits at Ziklag (1Ch 12:4 (Hebrew 5)). He is named with the Benjamites, but possibly he was a native of the town Gedara in Southern Judah. See Curtis, Chronicles, 196.</p><p>(2), (3) Two Manassite captains who joined David at Ziklag (1Ch 12:20 (Hebrew 21)).</p><p>(4) A Levite overseer in Hezekiah's time (2Ch 31:13); may be the ancestor of the chief of the priests in 2Ch 35:9 = "Joram" of 1 Esdras 1:9.</p><p>(5) A Levite (Ezr 8:33), mentioned again probably in Ezr 10:23; Ne 8:7; 11:16. The name in 1 Esdras 8:63 ( = Ezr 8:33) is "Josabdus" (the King James Version "Josabad").</p><p>(6) A priest who had married a foreign wife Ezr 10:22) = "Ocidelus" of 1 Esdras 9:22.</p>