Who is tubal in merchant of Venice act 1 scene 3?

Tubal is a Jewish moneylender and friend of Shylock in William Shakespeare's play, The Merchant of Venice. He appears in Act 1, Scene 3 and Act 3, Scene 1. In Act 1, Scene 3, Tubal enters with Shylock after Antonio, the merchant of Venice, has borrowed money from Shylock on the condition that if he fails to repay the loan by a certain date, Shylock can exact a pound of Antonio's flesh as a penalty. Tubal asks Shylock why he is so keen to lend money to Antonio when he knows that Antonio despises Jews. Shylock explains that he wants to seek revenge on Antonio for the insults and mistreatment he has suffered at the hands of Antonio and other Christians in Venice. Tubal encourages Shylock to exact his revenge and offers to help him in any way he can. This sets the stage for the conflict that unfolds in the play.