SABEANS. Isai. xlv. 14. The Sabeans, Men of Stature. These are probably the Sabeans of Arabia Fœlix, or those of Asia. They submitted themselves to Cyrus, and acknowledg’d his Government.
The Sabeans, a People of Arabia, were descended from Saba: But as there are several known by the Name of Saba, who were Job i. 15.were all Heads of a People, or of Tribes; we must also distinguish several Kinds of Sabeans. Those that took away the Flocks of Job, were, probably, a People of Arabia Deserta, who dwelt about Bozra; or, perhaps, they were a flying Troop of Sabeans that infested that Country. We shall hereafter mention Saba, or Sheba, the Son of Jockshan, who might be the Father of the Sabeans here spoken of.
The Sabeans, Descendants from Sheba Gen. x. 7.Son of Cush, are, probably, those of Arabia Fœlix, who are famous for their Spices; to whom the Poets give the Epithet of soft and effeminate, and who had Women to command them:
Claud. in Eutrop. l. 2.Medis, levibusque Sabæis Imperat hic Sexus. Several are of Opinion, that it was from 1 Kings x. 1,2.hence the Queen of Sheba came to hear the Wisdom of Solomon; and that it is of these Sabeans that the Psalmist speaks; Psal. lxxi. 10. Jer. vi. 20. Isai. lx. 6.Reges Arabum & Saba dona Domino Deo adducent. And in Jeremiah; Ut quid mihi thus de Saba affertis? And in Isaiah; Omnes de Saba venient, aurum & thus deferentes.
The Sabeans, Sons of Shebah, Son of Rheumah, probably also dwelt in Arabia Fœlix. I imagine it to be these of whom Ezekiel speaks, who came with their Merchandises Ezekiel xxvii. 22.to the Fairs of Tyre: Venditores Saba, & Reema, ipsi negotiatores tui. And Joel iii. 8.in Joel; I will deliver up your Children to the Tribe of Judah, who shall sell them to the Sabeans, a Nation at a great Distance: Venundabunt eos Sabæis, genti longinquæ.
Ezekiel xxvii. 23.The Sabeans, Descendants from Joktan, may very well be those mention’d by Ezekiel; Saba, Assur, and Chelmud, Venditores tui. We believe they inhabited beyond the Euphrates; from whence it is that they are put with Assur and Chelmad.
The Sabeans are also placed in Africa, in Joseph. Antiq. l. 2. c. 5.the Isle of Meroe. Josephus brings the Queen of Sheba from thence, and pretends, that this Country had the Name of Shebah, or Saba, before it was call’d Meroe.
Sabeans, or Sabians, or Zabians, is the Name which is given to the ancient Idolaters, or Image-worshippers, in Persia. We shall speak of them at Length in the Article ZABIANS.