Phoenician city; skilled builders; allied against Israel
Gebal
Named in 4 verses across 4 books, first in Joshua 13:5.
גְּבַלGebal
גְּבָלGebal
גִּבְלִיGebalite
גִּבְלִיGebal
Also called Gebalite.
The name means “bound; limit.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Gebal Written by AI
Gebal, also known as Byblos, was an important Phoenician city located on the Mediterranean coast, north of modern-day Beirut. The city is mentioned in several contexts in the Bible, highlighting its significance in the region. In Ezk.27.9, Gebal is described as a source of skilled shipbuilders and wise men who helped repair the ships of Tyre, indicating the city's reputation for craftsmanship and maritime expertise. The "elders" and "wise men" of Gebal are specifically mentioned as being employed on Tyrian ships. Gebal is also listed in Psalm 83:7 among the nations that formed a coalition against Israel, along with Edom, Moab, and others. This suggests that Gebal, at times, was hostile towards Israel and aligned with its enemies. However, in 1Ki.5.18, the Gebalites (people of Gebal) are mentioned alongside the Sidonians as skilled stonecutters who helped prepare the stones for the construction of Solomon's temple in Jerusalem. This indicates that Gebal also had a role in providing materials and labor for this important project. The city of Gebal has a long history, with evidence of occupation dating back to the Bronze Age. It was an important center of trade and religion, particularly associated with the worship of the goddess Baalat Gebal. The city's strategic location and its valuable resources, such as cedar wood and skilled artisans, made it a significant player in the region's political and economic landscape.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
A line (or natural boundary, as a mountain range). (1.) A tract in the land of Edom south of the Dead Sea (Ps. 83:7); now called Djebal.
(2.) A Phoenician city, not far from the sea coast, to the north of Beyrout (Ezek. 27:9); called by the Greeks Byblos. Now Jibeil. Mentioned in the Amarna tablets.
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An important Phoenician text, referring to the temple of Baalath, on a monument of Yehu-melek, its king (probably B.C. 600), has been discovered.
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
34.119, 35.646 See it on a map
Where the Bible names it
- Joshua 13:5
the land of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo-hamath.
- 1 Kings 5:18
So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.
- Psalm 83:7
of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre.
- Ezekiel 27:9
The elders of Gebal were aboard as shipwrights, repairing your leaks. All the ships of the sea and their sailors came alongside to barter for your merchandise.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.