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The Land of Tema, te'-ma or tema', ( תֵּמָא, Θαιμάν, تيماء (مدينة) and Thaiman) is a place mentioned in the bible. as the place where the descendents of Ishmaels son Tema dwelt.
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Name
In Hebrew the name means "south country" and was named for Tema, a son of Ishmael and the tribe descended from him
Biblical references
The Bible mentions it 5 times. It was in Edom It is described as a remote oasis on a main trade route through Arabia It is often associated with The land of Dumah. It was admonished by Amos and Jeremiah.
Extra Biblical references
It was mentioned by Ptolemy, Pliny by Agatharchides and by Josephus.
It was noted as halfway between Damascus and Mecca, and between Babylonia and Egypt.
Yaqut mentions that in the middle Ages it was inhabited by a Jewish Community.
Identification
The Land of Tema was most likely in northern Saudi Arabia and has been identified with the modern Teima', an oasis (fitting with the description in Jeremiah) which lies about 200 miles North of Medina, and some 40 miles South of Dumat (Dumah), now known as el-Jauf. Teima' is on the ancient caravan road connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Aqaba; which in antiquity bought wealth to the town Doughty has described at Teima the ruins of an old city wall 3 miles in circuit. An Aramaic stele recently discovered, belonging to the 6th century B.C., shows the influence of Assyrian in the town. The place is mentioned in the cuneiform inscriptions.