Tayma (Tema) is a large oasis with a long tradition of occupation, located in Saudi Arabia northeast of the Hijaz at the point where the trade route between Tathrib (Medina) and Dumah begins to cross the Nafud desert. In ancient times the oasis was noted as a prosperous Jewish colony, rich in water wells and handsome buildings. Tiglath-pileser III received tribute from Teyma, and Sennacherib named one of Nineveh's gates as the Desert Gate, and records that "the gifts of the Sumu'anite and the Teymeite enter through it." It was rich and proud in the 7th century BCE enough for Jeremiah to prophesy against it (Jeremiah 25:230). Tayma is mentioned in Assyrian sources. It was ruled by a local Arab dynasty. The names of two eigth-century BCE queens, Shamsi and Zabibei, are recorded.
In 539 BCE, Nabonidus retired to Tayma, entrusting the kingship of Babylon to his son. From this we can recognize Tayma as being an important place.
Cuneiform inscriptions possibly dating from the 6th century BCE have been recovered from Tayma. It is mentioned several times in the New Testament. The biblical eponym is apparently Tema, one of the sons of Ishmael. Archeological investigation of the site, under the auspices of the German Archaeological institute, is ongoing.
According to Arab tradition, Tayma was ruled by a Jewish dynasty during the late classical period, though whether these were exiled Judeans or the Arab descendents of converts is unclear. The town fell to the Muslims in the 630s and the inhabitants were subjected to dhimmitude, and late expelled.
The Teyma stele discovered by Charles Hubert in 1883, now at the Louvre lists the gods of Teyma, in the 6th century BCE: Ṣalm of Maḥram and Shingala and Ashira as the gods of Tema. This Ashira might be Athirat/Asherah.
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