Rome, the Greek World, and the East, Vol. 3 - The Greek World, the Jews, and the East

The Origins of Islam 

names are then given: ‘‘Neba’ioth, the first-born of Ish’mael and Kedar and
Adbeel, and Mibsam; and Mishma, and Dumah, and Masa; Ḥadad, and Tema,
Jetur, Naphish, and Ked’emah.’’
In the LXX this list comes out in the form: ‘‘Neba’ioth and Kedar and
Nabdeel and Mossam and Masma and Idouma and Massē and Ḥadad and
Thaimon and Jetur and Naphes and Kedma.’’
In both texts these names are listed in the first instance simply as those
of individuals. But both then go on to say that these were the rulers of
peoples: ‘‘these are their names according to their settlements and encamp-
ments, twelve rulers over their peoples’’ (:).
It should be noted that neither the Hebrew text nor the LXX gives the
namesofthe‘‘peoples,’’nor(a fortiori) makes any reference to their current
locations or customs. An extremely obscure reference to location is attached
(:) only to the name of Ishmael himself, after the report of his death:
‘‘from Havilah to Shur, which is to the east of Egypt on the way to ‘Assyria.’ ’’
Earlier, after Hagar and Ishmael had been driven out, both texts (:–)
had described them as living in the desert of Pharan.
It is again Josephus who makes a decisive editorial intervention at this
point and not only locates the relevant peoples in the contemporary world
but stresses their relationship to Abraham. After repeating the names as
found in the LXX, but—as he always does—with Greek endings (Nabaiō-
thēs, Kēdaros, and so forth), he continues:

These occupy the whole territory stretching from the Euphrates to the

Red Sea, having given it the name ‘‘Nabatēnē.’’ These are they who have

named the people of the ‘‘Arabes’’ (to tōn Arabōn ethnos) and their tribes

after themselves, because of their own distinction and the honour of

Abraham.^18

Josephus reinforces this point later when he inserts a story of the dream of
Amram, the father of Moses: God appeared to him in his sleep and reminded
him, among other things, of how Abraham ‘‘had bequeathed to Ishmael and
his descendants the land of theArabes.’’^19

‘‘Ishmaelites’’ and Arabs

At a number of points the Hebrew Bible and the LXX make passing allu-
sions to ‘‘Ishmaelites.’’ None of these passages contradicts, and all are compat-

. Josephus,Ant.,–.

. Josephus,Ant. , .