firstborn of Ishmael Nebaioth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, And Mishma, and Dumah,
and Massa, Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.[156] The Bible also mentions "Arabs" or
"Arabians" as nomads wandering in North Arabia and Southern Palestine, with some verses associating
them with animal-breeding, such as the tribute of flocks, rams, and goats brought to Jehoshaphat by the
Arabs.[157][158][159][160][161][162]
A depiction of Hagar and her son Ishmael in the desert (1819) by François-
Joseph Navez
The Quran mention, Ibrahim (Abraham) and his wife Hajar (Hagar) bore a prophetic child named
Ishmael, who was gifted by God all of Ishmael, Alyasa, Yunus and Lut a favor above the nations.[163] God
ordered Ibrahim to bring Hajar and Ishmael to Mecca, where he prayed for them to be provided with
water and fruits. Hajar ran between the hills of Safa and Marwa in search of water, and
an angel appeared to them and provided them with water. Ishmael grew up in Mecca. Ibrahim was later
ordered to sacrifice Ishmael in a dream, but God intervened and replaced him with a goat. Ibrahim and
Ishmael then built the Kaaba in Mecca, which was originally constructed by Adam.[164] The Quran calls
itself ʿarabiy , "Arabic", and Mubin , "clear". [Quran^ 43:2-^3 ]
According to the Samaritan book Asaṭīr adds:[165]: 262 "And after the death of Abraham, Ishmael reigned
twenty-seven years; And all the children of Nebaot ruled for one year in the lifetime of Ishmael; And for
thirty years after his death from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates; and they
built Mecca."[166] Josephus also lists the sons and states that they "...inhabit the lands which are
between Euphrates and the Red Sea, the name of which country is Nabathæa.[167][168] The Targum
Onkelos annotates (Genesis 25:16), describing the extent of their settlements: The Ishmaelites lived
from Hindekaia (India) to Chalutsa (possibly in Arabia), by the side of Mizraim (Egypt), and from the area
around Arthur (Assyria) up towards the north. This description suggests that the Ishmaelites were a
widely dispersed group with a presence across a significant portion of the ancient Near East.[169][170]