Arabah
(burnt up). Although this word appears in the Authorized Version in its original shape only in (Joshua 18:18) yet in the Hebrew text it is of frequent occurrence.
It indicates more particularly the deep-sunken valley or trench which forms the most striking among the many striking natural features of Palestine, and which extends with great uniformity of formation from the slopes of Hermon to the Elanitic Gulf (Gulf of Akabah) of the Red Sea; the most remarkable depression known to exist on the surface of the globe.
Through the northern portion of this extraordinary fissure the Jordan rushes through the lakes of Huleh and Gennesaret down its tortuous course to the deep chasm of the Dead Sea. This portion, about 150 miles in length, is known amongst the Arabs by the name of el-Ghor . The southern boundary of the (Ghor is the wall of cliffs which crosses the valley about 10 miles south of the Dead Sea.
From their summits, southward to the Gulf of Akabah, the valley changes its name, or, it would be more accurate to say, retains old name of Wady el-Arabah .
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Arabah
Arabah ar'-a-ba, a-ra'-ba ha-`arabhah, "the Arabah"): This word indicates in general a barren district, but is specifically applied in whole or in part to the depression of the Jordan valley, extending from Mount Hermon to the Gulf of Akabah. In the King James Version it is transliterated only once (Jos 18:18) describing the border of Benjamin. Elsewhere it is rendered "plain." But in the Revised Version (British and American) it is everywhere transliterated. South of the Dead Sea the name is still retained in Wady el-Arabah. In De 1:1; 2:8 (the King James Version "plain") the southern portion is referred to; in De 3:17; 4:49; Jos 3:16; 11:2; 12:3 and 2Ki 14:25 the name is closely connected with the Dead Sea and the Sea of Chinnereth (Gennesaret). The allusions to the Arabah in De 11:30; Jos 8:14; 12:1; 18:18; 2Sa 2:29; 4:7; 2Ki 25:4; Jer 39:4; 52:7 indicate that the word was generally used in its most extended sense, while in Jos 11:16, and Jos 12:8 it is represented as one of the great natural divisions of the country. The southern portion, which still retains the name of Arabah, i…
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Arabah
This word occurs only once in the AV (Jos 1*?*) in the de.^cription of the border of the lot of Benjamin ; but in KV it has a more extended meaning, and is applied to at least a portion of the great valley (Wady el Arabah) which stretches from the tiulf of Akabah into the Jordanic basin. 1. In the former sense the name applies to the broad plain of alluvial land stretching from the N. shore of the Dead Sea along the right bank of the Jordan fur a distance of about 50 miles, and bounded on the W. by the broken line of steep slopes and precipitous dill's which close in the valley from its junction with the Wady el Joseleh south- wards to the heights of Kuruntftl and the shore of the Dead Sea itself. The surface is comnosed of suc- ctssive terraces of gypseous marl ami loam, rising by steps from the river's edge to a height of (idO ft., and marking the successive levels at which the waters stood when they were receding to their present limits. Nearly all authorities are now agreed that the plain we are considering was tlie site of the doomed cities Sodom and Gomorrah, and aft«nvards of…
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Arabah
(Jos 18:18) ("the plain", is akin to "Arabia".) The article in Hebrew marks it as some definite spot, namely, the deep sunken gorge extending from mount Hermon to the Elanitic gulf of the Red Sea; the most extraordinary depression on the earth. The Jordan rushes for 150 miles through its northern part (el Ghor) by lakes Huleh and Gennesareth, to the deep abyss of the Dead Sea. The Ghor extends to precipitous cliffs, 10 miles S. of the Dead Sea. Thence to the gulf of Akaba it resumes its old name, wady el Arabah. In Jos 11:16; Jos 12:8, the Arabah takes its place among the natural divisions of the country, and in Deu 3:17 in connection with the sea of Chinnereth (Gennesareth) and the Dead Sea. In the plural it is connected with either Jericho or Moab; the Arabah being in Jericho's case W. of Jordan, in Moab's case E. of Jordan, bore and parched as contrasted with the rich fields of the upper level. The S. Arabah was the scene of Israel's wanderings in the wilderness, N. of which stood Hormah and Kadesh. They went down the Arabah southwards (after Edom's refusal to let them pass), from…
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia