Havilah: 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
(Genesis 10:29) comp.
(Genesis 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)
