Bible Dictionary
Beth-arbel
A place mentioned by Hosea as the scene of a devastating military disaster. Its exact location and the identity of Shalman are uncertain.
Definition
Beth-arbel was a place mentioned by Hosea as the scene of a terrible military disaster inflicted by Shalman. Its exact location and the identity of Shalman are uncertain.
Biblical Usage
Hosea used Beth-arbel as a remembered example of devastating judgment and military destruction.
Historical Background
Possible locations include sites in Galilee or east of the Jordan. Shalman has been identified variously with Shalmaneser or with the Moabite king Shalamanu, but the supplied material does not establish the identification.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
House of God’s court, a place alluded to by Hosea (10:14) as the scene of some great military exploit, but not otherwise mentioned in Scripture. The Shalman here named was probably Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria (2 Kings 17:3).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>beth-ar'-bel (beth 'arbe'l): The scene of a terrific disaster inflicted on the inhabitants by Shalman (Ho 10:14). If the place intended was in Palestine, and was not the famous city of that name on the Euphrates, then probably it should be identified either with Irbid (or Irbil) in Galilee, or with Irbid, which corresponds to Arbela of the Eusebius, Onomasticon, East of the Jordan, about 12 miles Southeast of Gadara. If, as Schrader thinks (COT, II, 140), Shalman stands for the Moabite king, Shalamanu, a tributary of Tiglath-pileser, the eastern town would be the more natural identification. Possibly however the reference is to Shalmaneser III or IV. For the Galilean site, see ARBELA; see also DB, under the word</p><p>W. Ewing</p>