Bible Dictionaries
Tema

Holman Bible Dictionary

(tee' muh) Personal and place name meaning, “south country.” Tema, a son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:15; 1 Chronicles 1:30 ), is associated with Tema (modern Teima), a strategic oasis located on the Arabian penisula 250 miles southeast of Aqaba and 200 miles north-northeast of Medina. Job 6:19 alludes to Tema's importance as a caravan stop. Isaiah 21:14 likely refers to the campaign of the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III (738 B.C.) when Tema escaped destruction by paying tribute. Jeremiah 25:23 perhaps refers to a campaign of Nebuchadnezzar. Having conquered and rebuilt Tema, Nabonidus, the last king of Babylon, remained there ten years, leaving his son Belshazzar as vice-regent in Babylon ( Daniel 5:1 ).