ISMAELITES. — Thus are they called, from the name of their father, the descendants of Ishmael.
He had 12 sons, presented in the Bible as the founders of 12 Arab tribes: Nebaioth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, Kedemah (cf. Gen. 25:12 ff.). The I. are mentioned, together with the Midianites, in the story of Joseph sold into slavery (Gen. 37:27 ff.; 39:1): they were merchants who carried weapons and spices into Egypt. The I. must have had close contacts with the Midianites and the Edomites, with whom they are often named in the Bible (cf. Gen. 28:9; 36:3; Judg. 8:3, 24; Judg. 2:13; 1 Chron. 2:17; 27:30; Ps. 82:7). Like their father, they devoted themselves to a nomadic life. The modern Arabs claim descent from Ishmael, as is well known, but not all of them descend from him. Most genuine descendants of Ishmael are found among the Bedouin Arabs who inhabit the steppes of Palestine and the Syrian-Arabian desert.