Obal

Obal is one of the sons of Joktan in the Table of Nations. The name appears once in Genesis and again in the Chronicles parallel, where the spelling shifts to Ebal — the same person, two forms.

A Son of Joktan

Genesis runs through Joktan's thirteen sons in a single sweep. In the middle of the list Obal stands between Diklah and Abimael: "and Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba" (Gen 10:28). The closing line of the section confirms the bracket — "all these were the sons of Joktan" (Gen 10:29).

The Chronicles genealogy preserves the same list with one shift in spelling. The same triad appears in the same order, but the first name now reads Ebal: "and Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba" (1Ch 1:22). The two forms — Obal and Ebal — point to the same Joktanite figure.