Ebal
Ebal was a son of Shobal and a descendant of Seir the Horite, mentioned in the genealogies of Esau's family. (Gen.36.23; 1Ch.1.40)
Biography
Ebal was a son of Shobal and a grandson of Seir the Horite, whose lineage is preserved in the Table of Nations-style genealogies embedded in the account of Esau's descendants (Genesis 36:23; 1 Chronicles 1:40). The Horites were the original inhabitants of the region later known as Edom, and Ebal's family formed part of the clan structure that defined pre-Edomite Seir. His name appears alongside brothers such as Alvan, Manahath, and Shepho in a list that catalogs the clans who inhabited the rugged hill country south of the Dead Sea. While no narrative exploits are attributed to him, Ebal's inclusion in Scripture reflects the biblical concern to trace ethnic and geographic origins with precision.
Significance
Ebal's presence in Genesis 36 and 1 Chronicles 1 illustrates the biblical author's commitment to comprehensive ethnographic record-keeping within the Table of Nations tradition. Though a minor figure, he represents the Horite peoples whom God allowed to occupy Seir before Esau's descendants displaced them (Deuteronomy 2:12), a pattern demonstrating divine sovereignty over the rise and fall of nations. His genealogy reminds readers that biblical history encompasses the broader human family, not merely the covenant line, and that God's providential ordering of peoples extends beyond Israel to encompass all the earth's nations.
Verse Appearances (2)
Genesis
1 Chronicles
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]