Tabeel טָֽבְאֵל
Persian official involved in accusing the Jews to Artaxerxes
Biography
Tabeel is mentioned in Ezr.4.7 as one of the Persian officials who wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes accusing the Jews of rebuilding Jerusalem. He is listed along with Bishlam and Mithredath. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated. No other details are provided about Tabeel's background or role. As a Persian official in the province Beyond the River, he would have had some authority in the region. His accusation against the Jews aimed to stop their efforts to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 4:7
"In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Syrian, and delivered in the Syrian language."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | טָֽבְאֵל | H2870A |
Tabeel
l and Damascus planned to place upon the throne of Judah (Isa 7:6). The form of the name Tabhe'el, suggests that he was a Syrian; his son evidently was a tool of Rezin, king of Damascus. The name is vocalized so as to read Tebeal (Tabhe'al), which might be translated "good for nothing," though some explain it as a pausal form, with the ordinary meaning. The change, probably due to a desire to express contempt, is very slight in Hebrew.
(2) A Persian official in Samaria (Tabhe'el) (Ezr 4:7). All that is known of him is that he joined with other officials in sending a letter to Artaxerxes for the purpose of hindering the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.
F. C. Eiselen
ta-bel'-i-us (Tabellios): One of the Persian officials in Samaria who wrote a letter to Artaxerxes which caused the rebuilding of Jerusalem to be stopped for a time (1 Esdras 2:16) = "Tabeel" of <ref osisRef="Bible: