Obal

O'bal (Heb. Obal', עובָל, a bare district; Sept. Εὐάλ v. r. Γέβαλ; Vulg. Ebal), son of Joktan, B.C. post 2060, and head of an Arabian tribe, mentioned in Ge 10:28, and of the region wherein it dwelt, 1Ch 1:22 (where it is called EBAL, q.v.). Bochart (Phal. 2:23) understands the Avalites, a people on the 'Ethiopian coast, near the Strait of Bab el- Mandeb (Ptolemy, 4:87), who gave name to the Sinus Abalites (Pliny, 6:34). They were a commercial people-(Forster, Geogr. of Arabia, 1:148). Others make Obal the same with the Gobolitis of Josephus (Γοβολῖτις, Ant. 2:1, 2; 3:2, 1; see Schulthess, Parad. p. 84), but here there is not even a resemblance (גּבָל and עֹבָל). See ARABIA.