1009. Beth Arebel

Lexical Summary

Beth Arebel: Beth Arebel

Original Word: בֵּית ארְבֵּאל
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Beyth 'Arbe'l
Pronunciation: bayth ar-BAY-el
Phonetic Spelling: (bayth ar-bale')
KJV: Beth-Arbel
NASB: Beth-arbel
Word Origin: [from H1004 (בַּיִת - house) and H695 (אֶרֶב - lair) and H410 (אֵל - God)]

1. house of God's ambush
2. Beth-Arbel, a place in Israel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Beth-Arbel

From bayith and 'ereb and 'el; house of God's ambush; Beth-Arbel, a place in Palestine -- Beth-Arbel.

see HEBREW bayith

see HEBREW 'ereb

see HEBREW 'el

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from bayith, ereb and el
Definition
"house of God's ambush," a place in Pal.
NASB Translation
Beth-arbel (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

בֵּית ַ˜ארְבֵֿאל proper name, of a location Hosea 10:14, perhaps Arbel near Pella (east of Jordan) Jerome Euseb. in Lag^{Onom. 88, 2nd ed. 123; 214, 2nd ed. 236}, compare Now on the passage; but in Galilee Rob^{BR ii. 399, modern} Irbid, compare Furrer^{ZPV ii. 1879, 57 f.}; Bd^{Pal 257}.

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Reference

Hosea 10:14 “Therefore a tumult will arise among your people, and all your fortresses will be devastated— as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel on the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces with their children.”

Name and Possible Location

“Beth-arbel” means “house of Arbel.” Because Scripture gives no geographic coordinates, study has focused on three main sites:
• Arbela in Lower Galilee, overlooking the west side of the Sea of Galilee (modern Arbel), known for its steep cliffs and caves that served as ancient strongholds.
• Arbela in the territory of Perea, east of the Jordan River (near modern Irbid, Jordan).
• Arbela on the Tigris River in Assyria (modern Erbil, Iraq), a city that came under Assyrian imperial control.

Any of the three could fit Hosea’s illustration of a fortress town suddenly overrun; the Galilean site is favored by many because it lay within Israel’s borders and possessed prominent fortifications, yet an Assyrian Arbela would suit the context of foreign invasion. Scripture itself leaves the location open, thus keeping the focus on the lesson rather than the map.

Historical Background: “Shalman” and the Sack of Beth-arbel

“Shalman” is likely a shortened form of an Assyrian or Moabite royal name:
• Shalmaneser III (ninth century B.C.) campaigned repeatedly in the Levant.
• Shalmaneser V (eighth century B.C.) completed the destruction of the Northern Kingdom in 722 B.C.
• Salamanu of Moab (contemporary with Tiglath-Pileser III) appears in Assyrian tribute lists.

Regardless of which ruler is intended, Hosea recalls a notorious massacre in which mothers and children were ruthlessly slain. The prophet treats that atrocity as common knowledge to his audience, a benchmark of brutality by which Israel’s coming judgment would be measured.

Prophetic Message in Hosea

1. Judgment proportional to sin. Israel’s reliance on human defenses (“all your fortresses”) could not shield her from a divine reckoning. What happened to Beth-arbel would happen to the entire nation (Hosea 10:13-15).
2. A sober reminder of broken covenant. The covenant curses warned that disobedience would invite siege, slaughter, and exile (Deuteronomy 28:52-57). Hosea cites Beth-arbel as living proof that such curses have historical precedent.
3. Exposure of false security. The Israelites trusted their military preparations and political alliances; Hosea answers with a single example that shows how quickly human walls fall when God’s protection is withdrawn.

Ministry Significance

• Preaching: Beth-arbel supplies a vivid illustration for messages on the folly of trusting in human strength rather than in the Lord (Psalm 20:7).
• Apologetics: The verse corroborates the prophetic pattern—real historical events are woven into moral warnings, underscoring the credibility of biblical prophecy.
• Pastoral Care: The cruelty inflicted on families at Beth-arbel magnifies God’s anger toward violence and injustice, encouraging believers to uphold life and defend the vulnerable.
• Discipleship: The passage invites self-examination of personal “fortresses” (wealth, status, technology) that may replace dependence on God.

Theological Themes

1. Divine sovereignty over nations: God employs even pagan kings as instruments of discipline (Isaiah 10:5-6).
2. Retributive justice: What Israel sowed in bloodshed and idolatry, she would reap in similar devastation (Galatians 6:7).
3. Covenant faithfulness: The mention of Beth-arbel assures that God’s covenant warnings are not empty threats; His word stands sure (Numbers 23:19).

Lessons for Contemporary Believers

• History is theology in narrative form. The Lord’s dealings with Beth-arbel validate His unchanging character and reinforce heed to His word today.
• National sin invites national judgment. Societies that disregard God’s law and oppress the weak place themselves on the same path Israel trod.
• Hope beyond judgment. Hosea’s prophecies culminate in restoration (Hosea 14:4-7). The bleak memory of Beth-arbel ultimately drives the reader to seek refuge in the steadfast love of the LORD, who alone saves from wrath through Jesus Christ.

Forms and Transliterations

אַֽרְבֵ֖אל ארבאל ’ar·ḇêl ’arḇêl arVel

Englishman's Concordance

Hosea 10:14
HEB: שַֽׁלְמַ֛ן בֵּ֥ית אַֽרְבֵ֖אל בְּי֣וֹם מִלְחָמָ֑ה
NAS: destroyed Beth-arbel on the day
KJV: spoiled Betharbel in the day
INT: destroyed Shalman Beth-arbel the day of battle

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 1009
1 Occurrence

’ar·ḇêl — 1 Occ.