Gebal
Gebal is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Phoenicia in modern-day Lebanon. Known today as Byblos. It appears across 3 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Gebal, known in antiquity as Byblos, was one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the ancient Near East, situated on the Phoenician coast of modern Lebanon. In the Old Testament, the city appears in 1 Kings 5:18, where its skilled craftsmen — called Gebalites — are recorded as assisting Hiram of Tyre and Solomon's workmen in cutting and preparing timber and stone for the construction of the Jerusalem Temple. This reference highlights Gebal's renowned reputation as a center of skilled artisanship and commerce throughout the ancient world. Ezekiel 27:9 notes that the elders and skilled men of Gebal served as ship caulkers for the great trading fleets of Tyre, further attesting to the city's maritime and technical expertise. In Psalm 83:7, Gebal is listed among the nations conspiring against Israel, placing it in the broader geopolitical context of Canaan's enemies. The city's deep connections with Egypt — through long-standing trade in cedar and papyrus — also made it a cultural bridge between civilizations. Though Gebal is not central to Israel's redemptive narrative, its craftsmen contributed materially to the construction of God's dwelling place in Jerusalem.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Modern Byblos (ancient Gebal) in Lebanon is one of the most thoroughly excavated sites in the Levant, with occupation layers spanning more than seven thousand years. French archaeologist Pierre Montet and later Maurice Dunand conducted extensive excavations beginning in the early twentieth century, uncovering royal tombs of Phoenician kings, temple complexes dedicated to Baalat Gebal, and numerous Egyptian artifacts attesting to centuries of trade relations. The site yielded early alphabetic inscriptions, including the Ahiram sarcophagus inscription, one of the oldest known examples of the Phoenician alphabet. Today Byblos is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with ongoing preservation and limited excavation continuing to illuminate the city's remarkable antiquity.
Verse Appearances (3)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →