as is also the case at Numbers 21:4 and 1 Kings 9:26.

Later in the history of the Israelites the gulf became very important to them because it proved to be a valuable trade route. Here were the ports of Eloth and Ezion-geber, through which gold and spices flowed into Palestine from Arabia, Africa and India, while land routes led back into the Sinai Peninsula, Palestine and Transjordan. Understandably, domination of the gulf and its straits in the S was of great economic importance. It, therefore, was a source of constant contention between the Israelites and the Edomites

At 1 Kings 9:26 mention is made of a fleet of ships that Solomon made at Ezion-geber, located on the Gulf of Aqabah. Later, at 1 Kings 22:48, the Scriptures tell about an attempt made by Jehoshaphat to send ships to Ophir, but they were wrecked at Ezion-geber.

Fierce winds blow from the N-NW during most of the year, sweeping down the Arabah or Rift Valley from the hot desert lands above the gulf. These and the sudden squalls that sweep down from the mountains on the sides of the gulf make navigation very hazardous. Yet, while Jehoshaphat’s ships could have been caught in the tricky winds of the gulf and swept upon the rocks that lie in the shallows, the Bible record shows that the disaster was actually due to Jehovah’s disapproval of the venture, so that ‘he broke down Jehoshaphat’s works.’—2 Chron. 20:37.

AQUILA

(Aqʹui·la) [Latin, eagle].

A natural Jew and native of Pontus in northern Asia Minor. Priscilla, his wife and loyal companion, is always mentioned in association with him. Banished from Rome by Emperor Claudius’ decree against Jews as of January 25, 50 C.E., they took up residence in Corinth. (Acts 18:1, 2) When Paul arrived there in the autumn of 50 C.E., Aquila and Priscilla kindly received him into their home. A very close friendship developed among them as they worked together at their common trade of tentmaking and as Aquila and Priscilla doubtless aided Paul in building up the new congregation there.—Acts 18:3.

When Paul sailed for Syria at the end of his second missionary tour in the spring of 52 C.E., Aquila and Priscilla went as far as Ephesus with him. (Acts 18:18, 19) They remained there at least until Paul wrote to the Corinthians from there about 55 C.E. Their home was used as the local meeting place for the congregation and there they had the privilege of assisting the eloquent Apollos to a more accurate understanding of the way of God. (1 Cor. 16:19; Acts 18:26) By the time Paul wrote to the Romans, about 56 C.E., Claudius’ rule had ended and Aquila and Priscilla had returned to Rome, for Paul conveyed his greetings to them, his “fellow workers.” (Rom. 16:3) Here, also, the congregation met in their house. (Rom. 16:5) Sometime during their relationship with Paul, Aquila and Priscilla had “risked their own necks” in behalf of Paul, thus meriting the thanks of all the congregations. (Rom. 16:4) Later they again moved back to Ephesus, for Paul, while in Rome just before suffering martyrdom (about 65 C.E.), asked Timothy to convey his greetings to them there.—1 Tim. 1:3; 2 Tim. 4:19.

AR

[city].

A city of Moab, possibly its capital. It was on the S side of the Arnon valley, but its precise location is uncertain. (Num. 21:15) At times Ar is used as synonymous for Moab. (Deut. 2:18, 9, 29) At one time the limits of Moab extended N of the Arnon, but this region was taken from them by King Sihon of the Amorites. (Num. 21:26-28) The Israelites did not attack Moab, since Jehovah had forbidden them to do so, having given “the territory of Moab, that is, Ar,” to the sons of Lot as “a holding.” (Deut. 2:9, 18, 29) In his pronouncement of desolations against Moab, Isaiah foretold that Ar would be “silenced” along with the other principal cities of Moab.—Isa. 15:1.

Since the name “Ar” means “city,” some suggest that the “city of Moab” (Heb., ʽir Moh·ʼavʹ) mentioned at Numbers 22:36 and also the “city” of Deuteronomy 2:36 both refer to Ar.

ARA

(Aʹra) [strong].

A son of Jether of the tribe of Asher.—1 Chron. 7:30, 38.

ARAB

(Aʹrab) [ambuscade].

A town in the mountains of Judah, mentioned along with Hebron, Dumah and other cities. (Josh. 15:48, 52) It is identified with modern el-Rabiyeh, lying between Dumah and Carmel, about eight miles (13 kilometers) S-SW of Hebron. Paarai the Arbite (2 Sam. 23:35) was evidently from this town.

See ARABIA.

ARABAH

(Arʹa·bah) [desert plains; from a root word meaning dry, burnt up].

That part of the extraordinary depression or rift valley that extends toward the S from the slopes of Mount Hermon, cradles the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River, drops far below sea level to form the basin of the Dead Sea, and then continues on southward to the Gulf of Aqabah at the Red Sea.—Deut. 3:17; Josh. 3:16; 11:16; Jer. 52:7.

This long, narrow, N-S valley, often dry, and containing few cities, is limited on each side by a long row of mountains. From a half-mile to ten miles (.8 kilometers to 16.1 kilometers) wide, and some 270 miles (434 kilometers) long, the valley owes its existence to a “fault” line, or long fracture in the earth’s crust. The Jordan winds through the northern part of this straight valley, and its steady flow waters a green belt down the center of the valley’s floor. South of the Dead Sea, however, the Arabah is fed only by seasonal torrent streams that are insufficient to bring life to the dry soil.

Some commentators limit the word “Arabah” to the part of this great rift valley S of the Dead Sea, but it also refers to the region at least as far N as the Sea of Galilee, or Chinnereth. (Josh. 12:3; 2 Sam. 2:29) The part of this valley N of the Dead Sea is now called the Ghor, meaning “depression,” while the word “Arabah” is more particularly applied to the far drier region to the S.

The Dead Sea is called the “sea of the Arabah.” (Deut. 3:17; 4:49; 2 Ki. 14:25) Without the definite article the word ʽara·vahʹ is also used in a general sense and may be properly translated as “desert plain.” The plural (ʽara·vohthʹ) is frequently applied to the desert plains of Jericho and Moab, the part of the Jordan valley just N of the Dead Sea.—Num. 22:1; 26:3, 63; 31:12; Josh. 4:13; 5:10; Jer. 39:5.

ARABAH, TORRENT VALLEY OF

At Amos 6:14 the prophet warns the kingdoms of Judah and Israel that the land will be oppressed by a foreign power all the way from “Hamath down to the torrent valley of the Arabah [desert plain].” (Compare 2 Kings 14:25.) While the term “Arabah” is applied to the entire Rift Valley region from the Sea of Galilee on down to the Red Sea, it has particular application to the area S of the Dead Sea down to the Gulf of Aqabah. Thus, while the expression “torrent valley of the Arabah” might have reference to a wadi emptying into the Dead Sea (“the sea of the Arabah,” Deut. 3:17), such as the torrent valley of Zered, which empties into the S end of the Dead Sea, it is notable that the expression used by Amos is the exact equivalent of the Arabic name applied to the region running from the S end of the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqabah, namely “Wadi el-ʽArabah.” Amos’ prophecy indicated a complete overrunning of the entire land once controlled by Judah and Israel, from north to south. During the following century this prophecy saw fulfillment in the invasions of Assyrian kings, including Tiglath-pileser III, Shalmaneser, Sargon II and Sennacherib.