Bible Dictionaries
Nabateans

Holman Bible Dictionary

(na baw tee' uhnss) Arabic people whose origins are unknown. Although not mentioned in the Bible, they greatly influenced Palestine during intertestamental and New Testament times. They appear to have infiltrated ancient Edom and Moab from a homeland southeast of Petra. That city later became their capital. From Petra they continued pushing northward as far as Madeba. In 85 B.C. Damascus requested a ruler of the Nabateans. The Arabs responded. Although overrun by Pompey in 63 B.C., they continued to influence Transjordan through a series of governors. Paul narrowly escaped being arrested by the Nabateans in Damascus (2 Corinthians 11:32 ). Paul spent time in Arabia following his conversion, probably preaching the gospel (Galatians 1:17 ).