Shobal

Several different men share the name Shobal, and Scripture treats each in a line or two. The first is a son of Seir the Horite, listed in Genesis 36 among the people of the land of Edom, where he is also called “duke Shobal.” The second is a son of Judah in 1 Chronicles 4, and his descendant Reaiah “begat Jahath,” from whom came “the families of the Zorathites.” These verses are not about adventures. They show how many families a single land held, and how the Bible keeps track of each household, however briefly.

5 verses

Genesis

Genesis 36:20

These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,

Genesis 36:23

And the children of Shobal were these; Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.

Genesis 36:29

These are the dukes that came of the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah,

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 4:1

The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.

1 Chronicles 4:2

And Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat Ahumai, and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

Pilgrim. (1.) The second son of Seir the Horite; one of the Horite “dukes” (Gen. 36:20).

(2.) One of the sons of Caleb, and a descendant of Hur (1 Chr. 2:50, 52; 4:1, 2).

From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

(flowing).

(1.) Second son of Seir the Horite, (Genesis 36:20; 1 Chronicles 1:38) and one of the "dukes" of the Horites (Genesis 36:29)

(2.) Son of Caleb the son of Hur and founder or prince of Kirjath-jearim. (1 Chronicles 2:50,52) (B.C. about 1445.)

(3.) In (1 Chronicles 4:1,2) Shobal appears with Hur among the sons of Judah. He is possibly the same as the preceding.

Based on Nave's Topical Bible by Orville J. Nave (1896). Dictionary entries from Easton's Bible Dictionary and Smith's Bible Dictionary. Public domain. KJV scripture text, public domain.