BETH-ARBEL 6t,I11tst 'Z), a place mentioned only in Hos. x. 14 ; and supposed with some proba bility to be the same as the Arbela of Josephus. This was a village in Galilee, near which were cer tain fortified caverns. They are first mentioned in connection with the march of Bacchides into Judma, at which time they were occupied by many fugi tives, and the Syrian general encamped there long enough to subdue them (A nt iq. xii. is. 1; 1 Maccab. ix. 2). At a later period these caverns formed the retreats of banded robbers, who greatly distressed the inhabitants throughout that quarter. Josephus gives a graphic account of the means taken by Herod to extirpate them (Antiy. xiv. 15. 4, 5 ; De Bell. .7ud. i. 16. 2-4). These same caverns were afterwards fortified by Josephus himself against the Romans during his command in Galilee. In one place he speaks of them as the caverns of Ar bela, and in another as the caverns near the lake of Gennesareth ( Joseph. Vita, sec. 37 ; De Bell. lad. ii. 20. 6). According to the Talmud, Arbela lay between Sepphoris and Tiberias (Lightfoot, Chorog. Cent. c. 85). These indications leave little doubt that Arbela of Galilee, with its fortified caverns, may he identified with the present Kulat ibn Maan and the adjacent ruins now known as Irbid (probably a corruption of Irbil, the proper Arabic form of Arbela). The best description of the neighbouring caves is that of Burckhardt (p. 331), who calculates that they might afford refuge to about 600 men.—J. K.
Addendum.—About two miles from the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, and three miles and a half from the town of Tiberias, are the ruins of Irbil. They are situated on the edge of the plateau of Hattin, where a deep and wild ravine breaks down from it into the fertile vale of Gen nesaret, now called el-Chuweir. The ruins are
not very extensive. They consist chiefly of rubbish, and foundations of hewn stones. Among them are the remains of a large and beautiful Synagogue, perhaps of the fifth or sixth century. A fine portal with sculptured ornaments still stands complete, and in the interior are several columns with Corin thian capitals. There can be no reasonable doubt that this is the Arbela of Josephus, and the Beth Arbel of Hosea. The situation, the name, and the singular fortified caverns in the neighbouring ravine, indicate the identity. The Arabic Irbid is a cor ruption of the Hebrew Arbel. About three quarters of a mile down the ravine are the caverns referred to by Josephus, and which, in all proba bility, led Hosea to mention Beth-Arbel as a place of great strength (ch. x. 14). The sides of the ravine are here cliffs of naked rock, rising to a height of nearly 600 feet. About half-way up that on the right, are extensive and singular excavated chambers, capable of containing several hundred men. Some of them are placed one above the other, like the stories of a house; some are walled up in front, having doors and windows. It would seem that the caves are partly natural, but greatly enlarged by art, and united by rock-hewn doors and passages. Within them are several large cisterns, into which the rain water was conducted from the hills and cliffs around by little channels. These caves, if only well-provisioned, might be defended by a few resolute men against an army. (Reland. Palest, p. 575 ; Wilson, Lands of the Bib. ii. 3oS; Robinson's Bib. Res. iii. 342).—J. L. P.