Land of Tema

The Land of Tema, Te'-ma, Tema or Thaiman is a place mentioned in the Bible where the descendants of Ishmael's son Tema dwelt [1]. It was most likely in northern Saudi Arabia and has been identified with the modern Teima', an oasis which lies about 200 miles north of Medina, and some 40 miles south of Dumat, or Duma [1]. Teima' is on the ancient caravan road connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Aqaba which in antiquity brought wealth to the town [1]. Doughty has described at Teima the ruins of an old city wall 3 miles in circuit [1]. An Aramaic stele recently discovered, belonging to the 6th century BC, shows the influence of Assyrian in the town [1]. Nabunaid of Babylon captured the city and settled there until Cyrus the Great captured the city and moved him to Carmania [1].