Arabia
Dictionary of Bible Names

Arabs, also called "the sons (or children) of the east," were a nomadic group of wandering shepherds. In the Old Testament Arabia referred to the place they lived, which was chiefly south and southwest of Israel. The area's two references in the New Testament, however, are related to those who lived both south of Israel and those east of the Jordan River who extended as far north as near Damascus.

Those considered Arabs in Scripture include the Midianites, the Ishmaelites, the people of Kedar, the Amalekites and others. These groups living in Arabia are linked to the Israelites through Abraham, either through Hagar and her son Ishmael or through the sons Keturah bore him after Sarah had died.

Important Verses

Judges 6:1 - 3
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.

And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east (those from Arabia), even they came up against them;

Location of Biblical Arabia

1Kings 10:14 - 15
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,

Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffic of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.

2Chronicles 9:13 - 14
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;

Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.

Jeremiah 25:15 - 17, 24
For thus saith the Lord God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.

Then took I the cup at the Lord's hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the Lord had sent me . . . And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert,

Ezekiel 27:21
Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants.

Galatians 1:17
Neither went I (Apostle Paul) up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me: but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

Galatians 4:22, 24 - 25
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman . . . Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.