ARABAH - The name given by the Hebrews to the whole of the great depression from the Sea of Galilee to the Gulf of 'Aqaba, e.g. 1 S.4.7, where it refers to the Jordan Valley east of Bethshan (see JORDAN). The 'Brook of the Arabah' (RV), named by Amos (6.14) as the southern boundary of Israel may be the Wadi Nimrin, which flows into the Jordan from the east 7 miles N. of the Dead Sea, but here the Hebrew 'arabhah may mean 'willows' (cf Is.15.7, of the same region). The name in Ezk.47.8 applied to the desert W. of the Dead Sea, is now applied only to the southern part, extending from a line of white cliffs that cross the valley a few miles S. of the Dead Sea. The floor of the valley, about 10 miles broad at the north end, gradually rises towards the S., until at a height of c 2000 feet above the Dead Sea (Jebel er-Risheh) it narrows considerably and drops to the Gulf of 'Aqaba at an average width of 6 miles. The surface is formed of loose gravel, stones and sand (rami), and patches of mud-pans (qa'a). There is sparse seasonal herbage, confined mainly to watercourses, with occasional acacia trees. The escarpment of the great limestone plateau, et-Tih, the Wilderness of Paran, forms the western boundary, and the Edomite escarpment the eastern. Here copper ores were worked by the Egyptians in the Pyramid Age (3rd millennium), and were later more extensively exploited under Solomon. Traces of ancient mining and smelting, and fortified camps for slave-miners have been explored by Glueck, who, further, excavated Tell el-Kheleifeh at the head of the Gulf of 'Aqaba and found the remains of a refinery with possible evidence of ship-building of the Solomonic age. According to OT tradition Israel traversed the Arabah when they went to Kadesh-Barnea, and again when they returned to the south in their detour past Edom (Nu.20.21, 21.4, Dt.2.8). [Article: Dictionary of the Bible, J.Hastings, 2nd Ed., T&T.Clark, 1963. - W.E. - J.Gr.]