2888. Tabbath
Lexical Summary
Tabbath: Tabbath

Original Word: טַבַּת
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Tabbath
Pronunciation: tahb-bath'
Phonetic Spelling: (tab-bath')
KJV: Tabbath
NASB: Tabbath
Word Origin: [of uncertain derivation]

1. Tabbath, a place East of the Jordan

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Tabbath

Of uncertain derivation; Tabbath, a place East of the Jordan -- Tabbath.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a place of refuge of the Midianites
NASB Translation
Tabbath (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
טַבָּ֑ת proper name, of a location Judges 7:22, spot near which Gideon's pursuit of Midianites ended, site unknown.

Topical Lexicon
Entry: Tabbath

Geographical Setting

Tabbath is mentioned in Judges 7:22 as a geographical marker on the eastern side of the Jordan Valley. Its location is given in relation to Abel Meholah, a site generally identified with the fertile area south of Beth Shan. While the precise site of Tabbath has not been conclusively identified, most scholars place it somewhere along the retreat route of the Midianite coalition as they fled from Gideon’s surprise night attack. The terrain in this region is characterized by rolling hills descending toward the Jordan River, ideal for quick movement yet also conducive to panic and bottlenecking during a chaotic retreat.

Historical Context

The single reference to Tabbath falls within the narrative of Gideon’s victory over Midian (Judges 6–8). Midianite hordes had been oppressing Israel for seven years, seizing produce and livestock and driving the Israelites to live in mountain caves (Judges 6:1–6). The Lord raised up Gideon to deliver His people, instructing him to whittle his army down to three hundred men so that the victory would be unmistakably attributed to divine power rather than human strength (Judges 7:2–7). After the unconventional nighttime attack involving trumpets, torches, and shattered jars, “the LORD set the whole camp into turmoil” (Judges 7:22a). The Midianites fled “as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath” (Judges 7:22b), marking the extent of their rout.

Role in the Gideon Narrative

1. Boundary of Defeat: Tabbath signifies the easternmost limit of the Midianite flight. Its mention underscores the magnitude of the rout; the enemy was driven far from the Jezreel Valley deep into the eastern Jordan region.
2. Testament to Divine Strategy: Every detail—including geographic endpoints like Tabbath—demonstrates God’s meticulous orchestration. By driving the Midianites toward a narrowing corridor near the Jordan, He ensured their panic would culminate in maximum disarray and minimum risk to Israel’s small force.
3. Marker for Tribal Involvement: The flight path that reaches Tabbath runs through territory that would soon involve the tribes east of the Jordan (Judges 7:24–25). Ephraim in particular was summoned to seize key crossings, cutting off escape. Tabbath thus marks a coordinate where northern and eastern tribal jurisdictions converge in a unified national deliverance.

Theological and Ministry Significance

• Assurance of Sovereign Deliverance: The mention of an obscure place like Tabbath within the inspired text highlights God’s intimate involvement in historical details. Modern believers are reminded that no circumstance or location is insignificant in His redemptive plan.
• Encouragement in Spiritual Warfare: Gideon’s victory—culminating at Tabbath—illustrates the principle that God often uses a faithful remnant to accomplish disproportionate victories (2 Chronicles 20:15; Zechariah 4:6). Ministry leaders may draw courage to rely on divine sufficiency rather than numerical strength.
• Call to Cooperative Obedience: The subsequent mobilization of Ephraim (Judges 7:24) demonstrates how God’s people must act swiftly when opportunities arise. Today’s church is likewise summoned to seize strategic “crossings” in evangelism and discipleship whenever the Lord gives momentum.

Lessons for the Church Today

1. Strategic Faith: Just as Gideon’s three hundred pursued decisively toward Tabbath, congregations are called to discern and follow God’s strategy, trusting Him for outcomes beyond human capacity.
2. Memorializing God’s Acts: Though Tabbath’s physical location is uncertain, its memory remains preserved in Scripture. Churches are wise to commemorate the Lord’s victories—even in “small” places—to foster corporate gratitude and confidence.
3. Unified Action Across Regions: The victory path from the Jezreel Valley to Tabbath required multiple tribal territories. Similarly, twenty-first-century ministry often spans denominations and cultures; cooperative obedience honors God’s design for His diverse people (1 Corinthians 12:12–27).

Archaeological Considerations

Archaeological surveys have yet to yield definitive evidence pinpointing Tabbath. Nonetheless, studies of settlement patterns east of the Jordan during the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages reveal numerous fortified and agrarian sites that match the biblical timeframe. Continued exploration may someday clarify Tabbath’s placement, further corroborating the Judges narrative.

Key Reference

Judges 7:22 – “When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD set the whole camp into turmoil, and the men turned their swords against one another. The army fled as far as Beth Shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.”

See Also

Abel Meholah; Midianites; Gideon; Valley of Jezreel

Forms and Transliterations
טַבָּֽת׃ טבת׃ ṭab·bāṯ tabBat ṭabbāṯ
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Judges 7:22
HEB: מְחוֹלָ֖ה עַל־ טַבָּֽת׃
NAS: of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath.
KJV: of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.
INT: of Abel-meholah by Tabbath

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 2888
1 Occurrence


ṭab·bāṯ — 1 Occ.

2887
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