Havilah
The sand region. (1.) A land mentioned in Gen 2:11 rich in gold and bdellium and onyx stone. The question as to the locality of this region has given rise to a great diversity of opinion. It may perhaps be identified with the sandy tract which skirts Babylonia along the whole of its western border, stretching from the lower Euphrates to the mountains of Edom.
(2.) A district in Arabia-Felix. It is uncertain whether the tribe gave its name to this region or derived its name from it, and whether it was originally a Cushite (Gen 10:7) or a Joktanite tribe (Gen 10:29; comp. Gen 25:18), or whether there were both a Cushite and a Joktanite Havilah. It is the opinion of Kalisch, however, that Havilah “in both instances designates the same country, extending at least from the Persian to the Arabian Gulf, and on account of its vast extent easily divided into two distinct parts.” This opinion may be well vindicated.
(3.) One of the sons of Cush (Gen 10:7).
(4.) A son of Joktan (Gen 10:29; 1 Chr 1:23).
Named in the Bible
7 verses
- Genesis 2:11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
- Genesis 10:7 And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
- Genesis 10:29 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.
- Genesis 25:18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.
- 1 Samuel 15:7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
- 1 Chronicles 1:9 And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
- 1 Chronicles 1:23 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
From Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), by Matthew George Easton.
