Arabia, Arabians means in the bible: In the Old Testament, “Joktanites”, Gen. 10,26-30 refers to southern Arabians. They were a Semitic trading tribe and closely related to the Abyssinians. The Ishmaelites of middle Arabia claimed to be descendants from Abraham. However, they were closer in their language to people in southern Arabia than the Hebrews. There were many wandering tribes in northern Arabia, among them the Midianites, who were descended from Abraham Gen. 25.1-4. In the Old Testament, these tribes are often called “the Children of the East”.
(in Bible Dictionary)
