Lexical Summary tab'el: Tabeel Original Word: טֱבְאֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Tabeal, Tabeel From towb and 'el; pleasing (to) God; Tabeel, the name of a Syrian and of a Persian -- Tabeal, Tabeel. see HEBREW towb see HEBREW 'el Brown-Driver-Briggs טָֽבְאֵל proper name, masculine (Aramaic; = God is good, see טוֺב; according to Wkl (see below) God is wise, compare Aramaic  , Ethiopic  be wise; Arabic  act as physician,  expert) — Persian officer in Samaria Ezra 4:7, ᵐ5 Ταβεηλ. טָֽבְאַ֑ל proper name, masculine (apparently pointed to mean good-for-nothing (אַל as negative) see De Di Du StaGesch i. 590, originally טָֽבְאֵל; Ol§ 91 d Köii, 537 and others think אַ֑ל- simply pausal form) — Aramean, whose son Pekah and Resin proposed to make king of Jerusalem in place of Ahaz; only בֶּןטָֽֿבְאַ֑ל Isaiah 7:6 (WklAlttest. Untersuch. 1892. 74 identification with Resin, comparing טַבְרִמֹּן father of Benhadad). Topical Lexicon Name and General Significance Tebeel (also rendered Tabeel or Tabel) designates two historically distinct individuals whose appearances frame moments when foreign powers attempted to neutralize or overthrow the covenant people. The name, likely Aramaic-influenced, echoes the divine name El and thus carries religious resonance, yet both bearers stand in opposition to the redemptive purposes unfolding through Israel and Judah. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Ezra 4:7 – A Persian official aligned with Rehum, Shimshai, and others who petitioned Artaxerxes to halt Jerusalem’s reconstruction. Historical Background The Persian Period (Ezra 4) Soon after returnees laid the Temple foundations (Ezra 3), regional officials feared a re-emergent Judah and sought imperial intervention. Tabeel participated in drafting the accusatory letter: “During the reign of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote to Artaxerxes…” (Ezra 4:7). This coalition wielded administrative authority over the Trans-Euphrates province. Their appeal, cast in Aramaic and courtly protocol, succeeded temporarily; Artaxerxes commanded the rebuilding to cease (Ezra 4:21-24). The episode illustrates the spiritual and political resistance God’s people often face when advancing His work (compare Nehemiah 4:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 2:18). The Syro-Ephraimite Crisis (Isaiah 7) Roughly two centuries earlier, the kingdoms of Aram and Israel forged an anti-Assyrian alliance and pressured Judah’s King Ahaz to join. When Ahaz refused, they conspired: “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.” (Isaiah 7:6). The “son of Tabeel” was probably an Aramean-leaning noble whose enthronement would secure Judah’s compliance. Isaiah’s ensuing prophecy (Isaiah 7:7: “It will not happen; it will not occur”) proved true—Assyria crushed Aram and Israel within a decade (2 Kings 16–17). The plot therefore became another stage upon which God preserved the Davidic line, a critical link to the promised Messiah (Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 1:1-17). Role in the Narrative of Ezra Tabeel’s presence in Ezra exemplifies bureaucratic opposition rather than open warfare. By leveraging imperial structures, he and his associates hindered covenant restoration. Yet the Lord eventually overruled through the decrees of Darius (Ezra 6:1-12), reaffirming that human edicts cannot thwart divine purpose. Role in the Prophecy of Isaiah The “son of Tabeel” represents an attempted usurper of the Davidic throne. His anonymity—Isaiah never names him—underscores his failure; the prophetic spotlight remains fixed on Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14) and the enduring legitimacy of David’s house. God’s intervention against the Aramean-Ephraimite plan demonstrates His zeal to guard the messianic promise. Theological Implications 1. Sovereignty of God: Whether through an imperial injunction (Ezra 4) or a military conspiracy (Isaiah 7), the Lord turns hostile schemes into occasions that magnify His rule (Psalm 2:1-6). Ministerial and Devotional Insights • Opposition often appears sophisticated—letters sealed with royal authority or coalitions formed by kings—yet God’s counsel stands (Proverbs 19:21). See Also Rehum; Pekah; Rezin; Ahaz; Immanuel Prophecy; Opposition to the Second Temple Forms and Transliterations טָֽבְאֵל֙ טָֽבְאַֽל׃ טבאל טבאל׃ ṭā·ḇə·’al ṭā·ḇə·’êl ṭāḇə’al ṭāḇə’êl TaveAl taveElLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 4:7 HEB: בִּשְׁלָ֜ם מִתְרְדָ֤ת טָֽבְאֵל֙ וּשְׁאָ֣ר [כְּנָוֹתֹו NAS: Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest KJV: Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest INT: Bishlam Mithredath Tabeel and the rest companion Isaiah 7:6 2 Occurrences |
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