Gebalites

The Gebalites were the inhabitants of Gebal (Byblos), the ancient Phoenician city on the Mediterranean coast north of Sidon. They appear in 1 Kings 5:18 as skilled stonemasons and builders employed in the preparation of materials for Solomon's temple. Alongside Solomon's own workers and the men of Hiram of Tyre, the Gebalites hewed and shaped the stones, contributing the specialized technical expertise for which the Phoenician coastal cities were renowned throughout the ancient world.

The Gebalites' participation in the construction of Israel's central sanctuary reflects the broader Solomonic pattern of drawing on Phoenician craft and material resources for temple-building — a partnership made possible by the treaty between Solomon and Hiram of Tyre. Gebal's skilled artisans were noted in Ezekiel's description of Tyre's workforce as expert ship-caulkers (Ezekiel 27:9), confirming the city's reputation for practical skilled trades. In Joshua 13:5, the land of the Gebalites is listed among territories not yet conquered by Israel at Joshua's death, situated in the Lebanese highlands north of Sidon.