Arabia: Arid, an extensive region in the south-west of Asia. It is bounded on
the west by the Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea, on the south by the
Indian Ocean, and on the east by the Persian Gulf and the Euphrates.
It extends far into the north in barren deserts, meeting those of
Syria and Mesopotamia. It is one of the few countries of the world
from which the original inhabitants have never been expelled. It was
anciently divided into three parts:1. Arabia Felix (Happy Arabia), so called from its fertility. It
embraced a large portion of the country now known by the name of
Arabia. The Arabs call it Yemen. It lies between the Red Sea and
the Persian Gulf.
2. Arabia Deserta, the el-Badieh or "Great Wilderness" of the
Arabs. From this name is derived that which is usually given to
the nomadic tribes which wander over this region, the
"Bedaween," or, more generally, "Bedouin,"
3. Arabia Petraea, i.e., the Rocky Arabia, so called from its rocky
mountains and stony plains. It comprehended all the north-west
portion of the country, and is much better known to travellers
than any other portion.
This country is, however, divided by modern geographers into
1. Arabia Proper, or the Arabian Peninsula;
2. Northern Arabia, or the Arabian Desert; and
3. Western Arabia, which includes the peninsula of Sinai and the
Desert of Petra, originally inhabited by the Horites
(Genesis 14:6)
etc., but in later times by the descendants of Esau, and known
as the Land of Edom or Idumea, also as the Desert of Seir or
Mount Seir. The whole land appears
(Genesis 10:1)ff to have been
inhabited by a variety of tribes of different lineage,
Ishmaelites, Arabians, Idumeans, Horites, and Edomites; but at
length becoming amalgamated, they came to be known by the
general designation of Arabs. The modern nation of Arabs is
predominantly Ishmaelite. Their language is the most developed
and the richest of all the Semitic languages, and is of great
value to the student of Hebrew. The Israelites wandered for
forty years in Arabia. In the days of Solomon, and subsequently,
commercial intercourse was to a considerable extent kept up with
this country
(1 Kings 10:15; 2 Chronicles 9:14; 17:11) Arabians were present in
Jerusalem at Pentecost
(Acts 2:11) Paul retired for a season into
Arabia after his conversion
(Galatians 1:17) This country is frequently
referred to by the prophets
(Isaiah 21:11; 42:11; Jeremiah 25:24) etc.
