Jethro, "the priest of Midian," represented a peculiarly Arabian institution.
The name of "Arab" was applied to certain tribes only of northern Arabia.

We hear of them in the Old Testament as well as in the Assyrian inscriptions.

In the Old Testament the name seems to include the Ishmaelite clans to the east of Edom.

Their "kings," it is said, brought tribute to Solomon; a colony of them was established at Gur-Baal in the south of Judah.

We learn from the Assyrian texts that they could be governed by queens; two of their queens indeed are mentioned by name.
It was also a "queen of the south," it will be remembered, who came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.