SAUDI ARABIA: the phrase "Saudi Arabia" was officially invented on 23 September AD 1932 by its founder, Abdulaziz bin Saud after founding the al-Mamlakah al-ʿArabīyah as-Saʿūdīyah (a transliteration of المملكة العربية السعودية in Arabic, of "the Saudi Arab kingdom"). The root word "as-Sa'udiyah" is derived from the "Al Saud" ("family of Saud"), whose ancestor was Saud ibn Muhammad ibn Muqrin, the father of Muhammad bin Saud (AD 1687–1765), the founder of the First Saudi State and Saudi Dynasty.
Needless to say, Saudi is not the biblical "Arabia."
The biblical "Arabia" is described by the Bible, as for an instance by the apostle Paul, to be located south or below Jerusalem, which means the biblical Arabia was near Jerusalem. Apostle Paul knew this because he lived 3 years in Arabia.
"Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Then after 3 years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him 15 days." -Galatians 1:17-18
Hagar, the Egyptian bondwoman of Sarah, lived in Arabia, particularly in the area of Makhtesh Ramon (Sinai) identified to be the land of Midian in Seir, making her grandchildren, from her son Ishmael, Midianites (Gen 21:14,21 & 37:28).
"Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the Mt. Sinai, which genders to bondage, which is Agar.
For this Agar is Mt. Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But
Jerusalem which is
above
is free, which is the mother of us all." -Galatians 4:24-26
In this allegory, Mt. Sinai in Arabia is in bondage, whereas Jerusalem above it is in freedom. Mt. Sinai as Hagar is mother of bondage, whereas Jerusalem is the mother of freedom.
In other cases, latter at the Babylonian Captivity, the term " מַעֲרָב " (maarab) is used in 1Chronicles 7:28, 12:16, 26:16,18,30 to mean "west," exactly to the direction of Arab in Negeb or south of Judah.
But Joshua 8:9 uses that word "maarab" to mean "ambush" (Judges 9:35). A place with the name "Arab" is mentioned by Joshua to be located between Hebron and Beersheba. This is the first time that the word "Arab" was used as a toponym.
"Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean, And Janum, and Bethtappuah, and Aphekah, And Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages" -Joshua 15:52-54
Arab in this passage is understood as "ambush." Although it is located south of Jerusalem and could be belonged to Seir (cf. Deut 1:44), but it was used as a descriptive for Kenite Midianites to mean "mixed people," whose ancestral territories were in Negeb, i.e. south of Judah. It was Moses who first used "Arab" to mean "mixed people" in their exodus in 1229 BCE which the Egyptians, particularly Ipuwer, called "desert people."
"And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about 600 elef strong foot-persons, beside children. And a
רַ֖ב
[multitude]
עֵ֥רֶב
[‘êrebh/Arab]
mixed
went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle." -Exodus 12:37-38
It is Moses also who revealed that the mixed people with them were the family of Kenite Jethro, priest of Midianites (Num 10:29-31, Judg 1:16).
In 1Kings 10:15 the same term "'erebh" ("Arabh") is used for "Arabia" as indicated by its "kings" but can be also understood as "mixed countries."
"Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the
kings of Arabia,
and of the governors of the land." -1Kings 10:15
Arabia referring to a place and not a people is a Hellenized form of "Arabah," an area near Negeb which during the reign of Jehoshaphat was referring to the east of the Philistine land (2Chronicles 17:11) near Kush (Makhtesh Ramon) in the south of Judah, hence both Philistines and Arabs were under the dominion of the king of Judah.
"Moreover YHWH stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines,
וְהָ֣עַרְבִ֔ים
[wə-hā-‘ar·ḇîm]
and of the Arabs,
that were near the
כּוּשִֽׁים
[Kushim]
Kushites"
-2Chronicles 21:16
As being part of Judah's politics, the Philistines, Arabians, and Kushites [Makhtesh Ramon] from the south of Jerusalem killed the sons of Jehoram (Joram), save the youngest Jehoahaz. The same had happened when Arabs killed all Jehoahaz's sons except the youngest Ahaziah (Ochaziah) in 841 BCE.
"And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned." -2Chronicles 22:1
Arabs this time were distinct group of people to the east of Philistine land and Kush (Makhtesh Ramon) in the south of Judah (Jerusalem).
Arabians were much concerned about the Jerusalem because they were affected if Jerusalemites were strong as they were obligated to pay tributes under its king.
"And the fear of YHWH fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were
round about Judah,
so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the
Arabians
brought him flocks, 7700 rams, and 7700 he-goats. And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store." -2Chronicles 17:10-12
In this passage, Arabians were near Jerusalem the way Philistines were near to the capital city.
Arabians dwelt in Gur-Baal ('Ascend of Baal') near Maon (of Mehunim) and Philistine land.
"And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the
Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal,
and the Mehunims.
And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the
entering in of Egypt;
for he strengthened himself exceedingly. Moreover Uzziah built towers in
Jerusalem
at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them." -2Chronicles 26:6-9
Arab was near Philistine land and Maon (Tell Ma'in) of Mehunim.
"Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean, And Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages:
Maon,
Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah," -Joshua 15:52,54-55
Fortifying Jerusalem was a disgusting thing for the Arabians, Philistines (Ashdodites), and Ammonites of the border of Egypt.
"But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the
Arbim [Arabians],
and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of
Jerusalem
were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it." -Nehemiah 4:7-8
These "Ammoni" ("Ammonites") are probably distinguished from "Bene-Ammon" ("sons of Ammon") in 2Chronicles 20:1 as the latter are related and relatives of Bene-Mowab ("sons of Moab").
The name Arbayim (Arabians) is clarified by defining it "Arbim" ("Arabs") in 2Chronicles 26:7.
"And God helped him against the Philistines, and against
הערביים
[hā-‘Arḇîyîm]
the Arabians
הָֽעַרְבִ֛ים
[hā-‘Arḇîm]
the Arabs
that dwelt in
Gur-Baal [Ascend of Baal], and the Mehunims [Maonites]." -2Chronicles 26:7
It seems that the term "Arabiy" ("Arabians ") was used as a variant name for business traders of Midian during the time of prophet Isaiah hence when these business men saw opportunities in the desert west of Babylon, they transferred themselves bringing the name "Arabians" and "Midian" in the east. The Midianites, particularly Ishmaelites, had business trips to and fro in Gilead to Egypt as early as the time of Joseph (Gen 37:25,28). In Moses' exodus, Midian had senators in Moab (Num 22:4,7) for they were in confederation under the suzerainty of Sihon (Num 31:8, Josh 13:21). In Jerubaal's time, Midianites were in Ephraim (Judg 7:25 & 8:3). This gives us an idea that Midianites were scattering to all directions from Kushan (Makhtesh Ramon). In south of Judah they were known "Arbim" (Arabs), whereas in the eastern part of Jordan they were identified with the name Arabiy or Arabiyim (Arabians).
We have a high certainty that the word "Arabh" was derived from "'Erebh" as hinted by prophet Jeremiah.
"And all the kings of
עֲרָ֑ב
[‘ă·rāḇ]
Arabia,
and all the kings of
הָעֶ֔רֶב
[hā-‘e·reḇ]
the mingled people
that dwell in the desert" -Jeremiah 25:24
Just a century after Babylonian Captivity, the term "Arabian" was used as distant as to Wadi Tumilat of Egypt. Herodotus 2.158 reported that "Patoumos (Pithom was) a city in the Arabian nome." It was the 20th district of Northern Egypt and its capital was Goshen (Egyptian, "Ḳosen").
The masculine of Arabah used in Isaiah 21:13 and Ezekiel 27:21 is
' rabh,
which literally means "desert plain," and translated into "Arabia."
From 'arabh is derived the adjectival noun
‘ărāḇhî
in Jeremiah 3:2 understood as desert dwellers of south of Judah.
This similar 'Arabhi is referring to the desert dwellers near Babylon in the days of prophet Isaiah (13:19-20).
The Arabia in apostle Paul's epistle is referring to the Arabia Petrea, in the south of Judah to eastern in Jordan. The capital city was Petra, where Imru' al-Qays ibn 'Amr received the title "King of all the Arabs" in the AD 328 Arabic inscription using Nabatean Aramaic alphabet. Arabs were widespread in the Egyptian peninsula from Petra to Wadi Tumilat in Egypt.
Roman emperor Hadrian (r. AD 117–138) had a map locating
Arabes Nabataei
in the desert regions, which were conquered by the Romans on March 22, AD 106 and renamed it Arabia Petraea and annexed as a Roman province. The Mafkat Peninsula became part of Arabia Petraea, a Roman province and now much known by the name Sinai Peninsula.
The Nabatean capital city was Raqmu ( 𐢛𐢚𐢒 or 𐢛𐢚𐢓𐢈, rqm or rqmw, *Raqēmō in Nabatean) which is Petra, taught to be derived from the name of its ancient ruler, Rekem. Josephus mentions that the Arabs in the first century were calling Petra as Rekeme after the name of its royal founder and describes it to be the "highest in the land of the Arabs" (Antiquities iv. 7, 1; 4, 7).
One of the kings of Midian, namely Rekhem, managed to reign in Rekem during the time of Balaam son of Beor, whose hideout in Deir 'Alla was destroyed in circa 1189 BCE when Tausert was the pharaoh.
"And they warred against the Midianites, as YHWH commanded Moses; and they slew all the males. And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and
Rekem,
and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: also Balaam ben-Beor they slew with the sword. And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire." -Numbers 31:7-8,10
Rekem was a Midianite king allied to Moab under the rulership of Sihon.
Lead by Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, as the priest and Joshua as chief of staff of Moses, Israelites defeated the Moabite Midianites and even killed Rekem.
As early as 1206 BCE, Shasu of Edom were used by king Merneptah as messengers and permitted to refresh their animals in Wadi Tumilat. This simply means that Edomites were an ally of the pharaoh and expected to be hostile against Israel. This also may explain why later Wadi Tumilat became an Arabian nome or the 20th district of the Northern Egypt as Midianites or Arabians of south Judah had amalgamated with or even had replaced Edomites.
The term Arabs or Arabians was not in used in the days of Joshua, but when these desert people was mentioned again, they were giving tributes to king Solomon, particularly the gold stationed in Ophir (Makhtesh Ramon) taken probably from Qurayya. This was in connection to the fact that the Kenite Midianites, under Moses' leadership with the Caphtorim (Philistine ancestors) afterwards under Joshua, dominated the Hejaz of Qurayya during the time of king Rameses II and Ramesses III by trading Atika to Hejaz. The troops of Moses, including Kenite Midianites, had transferred from Hormah (Tel Masos) to Edom (Timna Valley) and to Punon, hence Iron Age (1200 BCE) pottery bowls of Negev (south Judah) resembled Edomite and Philistine pottery in their decoration which also resembling Qurayya ware (aliased Midianite pottery). It was because of the gold, copper and business why Kenite Midianites under Israel became connected to Qurayya.
This gives us insight why Arabs were obligated to pay tributes to king Solomon after David conquered many cities in Edom.
"Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of
Arabia
and governors of the land brought gold and silver to Solomon. And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt." -2Chronicles 9:14,26
In Eratosthenes' opinions Arabia Felix was lying in the southern of Coele-Syria, hence the ocean to its north was called "Atlantic sea" (Mediterranean ocean). When the term Arabia became extended in area, it was identified to be the length between Heroopolis to Nabataean Petra to Babylon. Thus, the biblical definition from Arab near Beersheba to Babylon was further stretched out by the Roman writers toward Wadi Tumilat, because the latter became the part of the 20th nome of northern Egypt corresponding to the Arabian nome. Before the 1st century, the term "Arabia" was designated to the region lying between the Nile and Red Sea (Aqaba Sea), as noted in Herodotus 2.8 and Strabo 17.1.34.
For this reason, the subcontinent between Delta (Egypt) and Petra became known Arabia, prominently when Mafkat Peninsula was included in Arabia Petraea in AD 106. With this incorporation, Jebel Musa - one of the Mafkat mountains -became more popular as Mountain of Moses. Inscriptions discovered there suggest that between 2nd and 3rd century, Nabataeans were the pilgrims of the region where Jabal Musa is belonged. Celebrity monks were residing in a church in one of the high mountains there that has cave, claiming that their residential area is site where Moses received the Ten Commandments - as on the foot of that mountain was a tree of bush (a monastery was probably built there by Elena, the mother of emperor Constantine). The mountain was so holy that none of the monks or priests who lived nearby were permitted to live on its summit. The inhabitants were identified Arabians and celebrating feasts for the moon, which may have also additional basis why the area was called Sina, whose etymology was "Sin," the ancient moon god, which in more ancient Egyptian rite was called "Yah," exactly homophonous to the Hebrew God's name "Yah."
Egeria (Etheria), likely a Spanish nun, took a pilgrimage in Egypt to visit the Mountain of Moses. In around AD 383 she reached Jebel Musa.
“The mountains,” she writes in a diary, “are ascended with infinite toil” because they could not rise with donkeys but rather they had to “climb straight up the whole way, as if up a wall.”
According to Antoninus Martyr (c.570 AD), Arabian heathens were still celebrating moon feasts on Jebel Musa. This practice was reduced or eliminated when the Byzantine emperor, Justinian I (AD 527-565), order the building of a monastery in the claimed Moses' burning bush site near Jabal Musa. Even Muhammad PBUH, the prophet of Islam, recognized it as the holy mountain, that he recited it in Qur'an 23:20, and identified Jebel Musa as Ṭūr Sīnā’ (Mt. Sinai). This gives us clue that the Arabia known to the 1st century and 7th century people, Christians or non-Christians, was what constituted to the subcontinent between Egypt proper and Nabatæan Petra. The entire subcontinent is now known Sinai Peninsula. Sinai during those two millennia was not known to be in Saudi but in Arabia of Sinai Peninsula.
This may give us hint that after apostle Paul, Sinai in Makhtesh Ramon was apparently, completely eaten by the earth there, leaving no trace of the mountain range, hence making Jews to find it in another location, that is, in Jebel Musa. The earliest inhabitants of the surrounding of Jebel Musa were Monitu, and their area was called Khetiu-Mafkat (ḫtiw-mfkꜣt, "Ladders of the Green Minerals") or ta mafkat (t3 mfk3.t, "land of turquoise") or Biau (bỉꜣw, "Mining Country").
The description that Arabia was between Nile and Nabatæan Petra was clear in some passages of Strabo.
"I return to the opinions of Eratosthenes, which he next delivers respecting Arabia. He is speaking of the
northern
and desert part, lying between Arabia Felix, Cœle-Syria, and Judæa, to the recess of the Arabian [Aqaba] Gulf.
From Heroopolis, situated in that recess of the Arabian [Suez] Gulf which is on the side of the Nile, to Babylon, towards Petra of the Nabatæi, are 5600 stadia. The whole tract lies in the direction of the summer solstice (i. e. east and west), and passes through the adjacent Arabian tribes, namely Nabatæi, Chaulotæi, and Agræi. Above these people is Arabia Felix, stretching out 12,000 stadia towards the south to the Atlantic Sea.
The first people, next after the Syrians and Jews, who occupy this country are husbandmen. These people are succeeded by a barren and sandy tract, producing a few palms, the acanthus, and tamarisk; water is obtained by digging [wells] as in Gedrosia. It is inhabited by Arabian Scenitæ, who breed camels.
...
Merchants arrive in seventy days at Minæa from Ælana. Ælana [Aileı́m] is a city on the other recess of the Arabian Gulf, which is called
Ælanites, opposite to Gaza,...
...
After the bay is the island Ophiodes, so called from the accidental circumstance [of its having once been infested with serpents]. It was cleared of the serpents by the king, on account of the destruction occasioned by those noxious animals to the persons who frequented the island, and on account of the topazes found there. The topaz is a transparent stone, sparkling with a golden lustre, which however is not easy to be distinguished in the day-time, on account of the brightness of the surrounding light, but at night the stones are visible to those who collect them. The collectors place a vessel over the spot [where the topazes are seen] as a mark, and dig them up in the day. A body of men was appointed and maintained by the kings of Egypt to guard the place where these stones were found, and to superintend the collection of them.
...
Next is the island of Phocæ (Seals), which has its name from those animals, which abound there. Near it is a promontory, which extends towards Petra, of the Arabians called Nabatæi, and to the country of Palestine, to this [island] the Minæi, Gerrhæi, and all the neighbouring nations repair with loads of aromatics.
Next is the Ælanitic Gulf and Nabatæa, a country well peopled, and abounding in cattle.
...
Near these people is a nation more civilized, who inhabit a district with a more temperate climate ; for it is well watered, and has frequent showers. Fossil gold is found there, not in the form of dust, but in lumps, which do not require much purification. The least pieces are of the size of a nut, the middle size of a medlar, the largest of a walnut. These are pierced and arranged alternately with transparent stones strung on threads and formed into collars. They are worn round the neck and wrists. They sell the gold to their neighbours at a cheap rate, exchanging it for three times the quantity of brass, and double the quantity of iron, through ignorance of the mode of working the gold, and the scarcity of the commodities received in exchange, which are more necessary for the purposes of life.
...
The Nabatæans and Sabæans, situated above Syria, are the first people who occupy Arabia Felix. They were frequently in the habit of overrunning this country before the Romans became masters of it, but at present both they and the Syrians are subject to the Romans.
The capital of the Nabatæans is called Petra. It is situated on a spot which is surrounded and fortified by a smooth and level rock (petra), which externally is abrupt and precipitous, but within there are abundant springs of water both for domestic purposes and for watering gardens. Beyond the enclosure the country is for the most part a desert, particularly towards Judæa. Through this is the shortest road to Jericho, a journey of three or four days, and five days to the Phœnicon (or palm plantation). It is always governed by a king of the royal race. The king has a minister who is one of the Companions, and is called Brother. It has excellent laws for the administration of public affairs.
...
...
Merchandise is conveyed from Leuce-Come to Petra, thence to Rhinocolura in Phœnicia, near Egypt, and thence to other nations. But at present the greater part is transported by the Nile to Alexandreia. It is brought down from Arabia and India to Myus Hormus, it is then conveyed on camels to Coptus of the Thebais, situated on a canal of the Nile, and to Alexandreia.
..." -Strabo 16.4
