Ishmael’s firstborn son has a name that Scripture spells two ways. Genesis 25:13 says, “the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar,” and when Esau takes a wife from Ishmael’s family she is called “the sister of Nebajoth” (Genesis 28:9). Isaiah 60:7, spelling it Nebaioth, looks ahead to a day when “the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee,” offered on God’s altar with acceptance. The man is a name in a family list, and his descendants are a name in a promise.
4 verses
And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.
And Bashemath Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth.
All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.
Matthew George Easton, 1897
Height. (1.) Ishmael’s eldest son (Gen. 25:13), and the prince of an Israelitish tribe (16). He had a sister, Mahalath, who was one of Esau’s wives (Gen. 28:9; 36:3).
(2.) The name of the Ishmaelite tribe descended from the above (Gen. 25:13,18). The “rams of Nebaioth” (Isa. 60:7) are the gifts which these wandering tribes of the desert would consecrate to God.