Arabia

Arabia and its peoples appear at the edges of Israel's story as a desert neighbor, a source of livestock and precious metal, a target of prophetic oracles, and, in the New Testament, the place to which Paul withdrew after his call. The land is bound up with the descendants of Ishmael, with caravan trade through Kedar and Dedan, and with confederations that press on Judah from the south and east.

Sons of Ishmael

The genealogy of Ishmael names the tribal heads from whom many of the Arabian peoples descend. "These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam" (Gen 25:13).

Tribute to Solomon and Jehoshaphat

Arabia stands among the lands that pay revenue to Israel's kings at the height of the monarchy. In Solomon's reign, "besides that which the traders and merchants brought: and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon" (2Ch 9:14). In Jehoshaphat's reign the tribute is in livestock: "And some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute; the Arabians also brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he-goats" (2Ch 17:11).

Conflict with Judah

Arabian groups also appear as adversaries. Under Uzziah, "God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Meunim" (2Ch 26:7). After the exile, Geshem the Arabian joins Sanballat and Tobiah in mocking the rebuilding of Jerusalem: "But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the slave, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that you⁺ do? Will you⁺ rebel against the king?" (Neh 2:19). When the work goes forward, the same opposition hardens: "But it came to pass that, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, [and] that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very angry" (Neh 4:7).

Exports and Caravans

Ezekiel's lament over Tyre lists Arabia and Kedar among the city's trading partners: "Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they were the merchants of your hand; in lambs, and rams, and goats, in these they were your merchants" (Eze 27:21). The same caravan world surfaces in Isaiah's oracle, addressed to travelers who must shelter in the open: "The burden on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you⁺ will lodge, O you⁺ caravans of Dedanites" (Isa 21:13).

Prophecies Against Arabia

Arabia is named in the prophetic oracles of judgment that sweep across the nations. Isaiah's burden falls on its caravan routes (Isa 21:13). Jeremiah includes it among the kingdoms that must drink the cup of Yahweh's wrath: "and all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people who stay in the wilderness" (Jer 25:24).

The Maccabean Period

In the Maccabean wars Arabian groups appear on both sides of the conflict. Adversaries hire Arabian mercenaries against Judas: "And they have hired the Arabians to help them, and they have pitched their tents beyond the torrent, ready to come to fight against you. And Judas went to meet them" (1Ma 5:39). Jonathan later strikes one such group directly: "And Jonathan turned on the Arabians who are called Zabadeans: and he defeated them, and took the spoils of them" (1Ma 12:31). Arabia also serves as a refuge from Seleucid politics: "And Alexander fled into Arabia, there to be protected: and King Ptolemy was exalted" (1Ma 11:16).

Paul's Withdrawal into Arabia

In the New Testament Arabia returns once more, this time as the place Paul went after his call. Defending the directness of his commission, he writes: "neither did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus" (Gal 1:17).