Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 25:18

"And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria. He abode over against all his brethren." — Genesis 25:18 (ASV)

Havilah was far to the south, on the Persian Gulf. (See Genesis 10:29.)

Shur. —This was their western limit towards Egypt. (See Genesis 16:7.) In 1 Samuel 15:7 this same region is assigned to the Amalekites.

As you go toward Assyria. —This does not mean that Shur was on the route toward Assyria, but gives the eastern limit of the country inhabited by the descendants of Ishmael.

He died. —But the Hebrew is, he fell —that is, his lot fell; he settled there.

In the presence of. —This means to the east of all his brothers. Just as Assyria was regarded as lying to the north of Palestine, because on starting the traveller journeyed in that direction, so Arabia was considered to be on the east, for a similar reason. (But see Note on Genesis 16:12.)