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.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More