GEBAL ; Sept. PeficiX), a province only once mentionej in Scripture, and in connection with Moab, Amalek, and the Hagarcnes (Ps. lxxxiii. 7). This shews that it is distinct from the Gebal of Lebanon (vid. infra). It was evidently situated in the south-eastern border of Palestine ; and there can be no doubt that it is identical with Gebalene, a district embracing the northern section of the mountains of Edom. Its name 6=, mountain') is descriptive of its character. The Jerusalem Tal mud reads Mount Gab/a (4:n t...111D) instead of Mount Seir ; so also does the Samaritan in Deut. xxxiii. 2. Seir, however, was the ancient,name of Edom ; whereas Gebal \vas only a part of it. Josephus calls it Gobolitis (Tol3oXirts), and Eusebius Gabalene (PapaMpn). These writers, with Jerome and Stephen of Byzant., agree in locating it around or beside Petra (.4ntiq. iii. 2 ; Ottawas/. s. v. felzenzavz, Mabsar ; Reland, p. S4)• To the accurate observations of I3inckhardt and Robinson we are chiefly indebted for our know ledge of this ancient province. The latter says ;
This tract of mountains south of the district of Kerak (the ancient countly of Moab), and sepa rated from it by the Wady el-Ahsy, is at the present day spoken of as divided into two districts. The northern bears the name of Gebtil, 'mountains ;' be ginning at Wady el-Ahsy, and terminating towards the south, according to Burckhardt, at Wady el Shuweir. Vet the southern boundary would seem not to be very definitely assigned ; for esh-Shobek, although it lies south of that Wady, was some times spoken of to us as belonging to Jebal' (E. R. iii. 154; Burckhardt, Travels in S'yr. 41o). The chief towns in Gebalene were Tophel, Bozrah, Arindela, and Shobek (the Mons Regalis of the Crusaders). For fuller notice, see IDumfEA.- J. L. P.