Tabeal טָֽבְאַ֑ל
Man whom Syria and Ephraim wanted to make king of Judah
Who is Tabeal in the Bible?
Tabeal was a man whom the kings of Syria and Ephraim (Israel) conspired to install as king of Judah in place of King Ahaz, as recorded in Isaiah 7:6. The plot was part of the Syro-Ephraimite War around 735-732 BC, when Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel invaded Judah intending to replace Ahaz with a puppet ruler. The Aramaic name Tabeal likely means "Good is God" or "God is good," though little else is known about his background or identity. The conspiracy ultimately failed when Ahaz sought military aid from Assyria, and the Assyrian king defeated both Syria and Israel. Tabeal's significance lies primarily in his role as a pawn in the geopolitical conflicts of the ancient Near East and in how his would-be installation prompted King Ahaz's fateful decision to rely on Assyrian power rather than trust in God.
Biography
Tabeal is mentioned in Isa.7.6 as the man whom Rezin king of Syria and Pekah king of Israel (Ephraim) planned to install as king of Judah in place of Ahaz. This was part of their plot to invade Judah and replace Ahaz with a puppet ruler. The name Tabeal is Aramaic and may mean "Good is God" or "God is good." No other details are provided about Tabeal's identity or background. The conspiracy of Syria and Ephraim against Judah was part of the Syro-Ephraimite War, which occurred around 735-732 BC. However, their plot did not succeed, as Ahaz appealed to Assyria for help, and the Assyrian king defeated Syria and Israel.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentIsaiah 1 verse
- Isaiah 7:6
"‘Let us invade Judah, terrorize it, and divide it among ourselves. Then we can install the son of Tabeal over it as king.’"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | טָֽבְאַ֑ל |