| Easton's Bible Dictionary The sand region. (1.) A land mentioned in Genesis 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 (Genesis 10:7) or a Joktanite tribe (10:29; Comp. 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 (Genesis 10:7). (4.) A son of Joktan (Genesis 10:29; 1 Chronicles 1:23). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia HAVILAH hav'-i-la (chawilah; Heuila):
(1) Son of Cush (Genesis 10:7 1 Chronicles 1:9).
(2) Son of Yoktan, descendant of Shem (Genesis 10:29 1 Chronicles 1:23).
(3) Mentioned with Shur as one of the limits of the territory of the Ishmaelites (Genesis 25:18); compare the same limits of the land of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:7), where, however, the text is doubtful. It is described (Genesis 2:11, 12) as bounded by the river Pishon and as being rich in gold, bdellium and "shoham-stone" (English Version of the Bible, "onyx"). The shoham-stone was perhaps the Assyrian samtu, probably the malachite or turquoise. The mention of a Cushite Havilah is explained by the fact that the Arabian tribes at an early time migrated to the coast of Africa. The context of Genesis 10:7 thus favors situation on the Ethiopian shore, and the name is perhaps preserved in the kolpos Aualites and in the tribe Abalitai on the South side of the straits of Babel-Mandeb. Or possibly a trace of the name appears in the classical Aualis, now Zeila` in Somaliland. But its occurrence among the Yoktanite Arabs (Genesis 10:29) suggests a location in Arabia. South Arabian inscriptions mention a district of Khaulan (Chaulan), and a place of this name is found both in Tihama and Southeast of San`a'. Again Strabo's Chaulotaioi and Chuwaila in Bahrein point to a district on the Arabian shore of the Persian Gulf. No exact identification has yet been made.
A. S. Fulton |  | Multi-Version Concordance Havilah (7 Occurrences) Genesis 2:11 The name of the first is Pishon: this is the one which flows through the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 10:7 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Genesis 10:29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Genesis 25:18 They lived from Havilah to Shur that is before Egypt, as you go toward Assyria. He lived opposite all his relatives. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Samuel 15:7 Saul struck the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, that is before Egypt. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Chronicles 1:9 The sons of Cush: Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raama, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba, and Dedan. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Chronicles 1:23 and Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) |
