Who were the Geshurites?

A principality on the north-east of Bashan. 2 Sam. 3:3; 2 Sam. 13:37-38; 2 Sam. 14:23; 2 Sam. 15:8; 1 Chr. 2:23; 1 Chr. 3:2. David married the daughter of the king of Geshur, and she was the mother of Absalom.

Inhabitants of Geshur. Deut. 3:14; Joshua 12:5; Joshua 13:11, 13.

(1) But first we are to view the whole inheritance, essentially as we know the two Amorite kingdoms of Sihon and Og. Along with these we have now the territory of the Geshurites and Maachathites, which were mentioned in Deuteronomy as bounding Argob in Bashan, but not explicitly as coming within the limits of the two tribes and a half. Geshurites we have just met with in the south-west, probably the same people, though divided into two portions; and if "Geshur" signifies "haughty observer," "Maachah" means "oppression." They are little noticed afterward, and we can say little or nothing about them. The Israelites did not dispossess them, and we find kings of both places in David's time; so that they must have soon drifted into independence.

The lands enumerated have two principal divisions, in the south and in the north of that already subjugated. In the south there are those of the Philistines, with whom are named the Geshurites and the Avvites. Neither Philistines nor Geshurites were Canaanites, though their land is "counted to the Canaanites," and was no doubt originally theirs. The Avvites, from the relation in which we find them in Deuteronomy (Deut. 2) seem to have belonged to those monstrous races which were as gigantic in evil as in stature, and which were marked out specially for judgment. There is a certain association of these three together, and this we shall remember as every fact of Scripture has significance. Here, as in nature, moreover, a full induction is necessary to a right deduction.

Son of Ammihud and king of Geshur, and father of Maacah, David's wife. 2 Sam. 3:3; 2 Sam. 13:37; 1 Chr. 3:2.

Father of Talmai, king of Geshur. 2 Sam. 13:37.

Geshurites are mentioned along with the Philistines. Their name means "proud beholders," speaking of those who take the place merely of spectators, well able to criticize, proud of their ability to tell what should be done, but not involving themselves in the work of the Lord at all. We all know people of this kind, but let us not be like them: rather let us fully judge this kind of evil, triumphing over it by the faith of spiritual energy.

While half the tribe of Manasseh was included in the inheritance of property west of Jordan, the other half tribe is now seen connected with Reuben and Gad on the east of Jordan (v. 8). They had asked for this before and Moses had granted it to them (Num. 32:1-22). This land was divided between these 21/2 tribes. "Nevertheless the children of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites (v. 13). They still had the evil principle of the "proud beholder" (the meaning of Geshur) to contend with, just as believers today must contend with the pride that can observe and proudly criticize without being involved in the testimony of the Lord. This is an evil not easily banished! Yet, let us have serious exercise not to allow any such attitude to surface in our own personal experience.

Gesh’u ri - gentilic of Geshur

Gesh’ur ites gentilic of Geshur

Nor was this all. Tamar was full sister to Absalom, and Amnon's evil deed so filled his heart with hatred of his brother, that he does not rest until he has murdered him. And then follows more sad reaping of bad seed sown years before. Absalom flees the country to find refuge, instead of punishment, with his heathen, maternal grandfather, Talmai king of Geshur. There he feels himself safe from the vengeance that should, according to the law of God, have fallen on him.

Meanwhile, either Absalom's conscience or his fear of consequences drove him away from his own home. His father had not punished Ammon's wickedness: now Absalom had sinned in taking the law into his own hands, with the result that David did nothing about this either. His other sons return, all weeping, and David weeps with them. Absalom becomes a voluntary exile, going to Geshur, meaning "proud beholder" (v.37). This intimates the pride of observing others and condemning them, while seeing no wrong in self. In contrast to David, there is no indication that Absalom ever repented of his crime. He remained at Geshur for three years, during which time David longed after his son.