a servant; laborer
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
EBED.1. The father of Gaal (Jdg_9:26-35). 2. One of those who returned from Babylon with Ezra (Ezr_8:6); called in 1Es_8:32 Obeth.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909
("slave".)
1. Father of GAAL who helped the men of Shechem against Abimelech.
2. Son of Jonathan; one of "the sons of Adin" (Ezr_8:6), who returned from Babylon with Ezra.
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
By Andrew Robert Fausset, co-Author of Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's 1888.
E'bed. (a servant). (Many manuscripts have Eber).
1. Father of Gaal, who with his brethren, assisted the men of Shechem, in their revolt against Abimelech. Jdg_9:26; Jdg_9:28; Jdg_9:30-31; Jdg_9:35. (B.C. 1206).
2. Son of Jonathan; one of the Bene-Adin, (that is, sons of Adin), who returned from Babylon with Ezra. Ezr_8:6.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
By Dr. William Smith.Published in 1863
ē?bed (עבד, ‛ebhedh, ?servant?):
(1) Father of Gaal, who rebelled against Abimelech (Jdg_9:26-35).
(2) A companion of Ezra in his return (Ezr_8:6) = Obeth (1 Esdras 8:32).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.
Ebed
(Hebrews id. עֶבֶד, servant [q.v.], i.e., of God; comp. Abda), the name of two men.
1. (Many MSS., and the Syr. and Arab. Versions, have עבר, Eber; Sept. Ι᾿ωβήλ; Alexand. MS. Αβέδ; Vulg. Ebed and Obed.) The father of Gaal (q.v.), who headed the insurgents at Shechem against Abimelech, tyrant judge of the Israelites (Jdg_9:26-35). B.C. ante 1321.
2. (Sept. Ωβίθ v. r. Ωβήν, Vulgate Abed.) Son of Jonathan, and family- head of the lineage of Adin; he returned with 50 males from the captivity (Ezr_8:6). B.C. 459.
CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
press 1895.