Bible Geography · Arabian Peninsula · c. 2000 BC – Present
Arabia
Description
Arabia is the vast peninsula bounded by the Red Sea to the west, the Arabian Sea to the south, and the Persian Gulf to the east. In biblical times it was home to nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes including the descendants of Ishmael, various Midianite peoples, and later the Nabataeans whose trading empire rivaled Rome.
Significance
Arabia represents the wider world beyond Israel's borders that is still under God's providential care. The Queen of Sheba's journey to Solomon testifies that wisdom draws all nations. Paul's three-year sojourn in Arabia after his conversion was a crucial period of divine preparation, paralleling Moses in Midian and Elijah at Horeb.
Key Events
Ishmael was blessed by God and settled in the Arabian wilderness; the Queen of Sheba traveled from Arabia to test Solomon's wisdom; Nabataean traders carried incense along the spice routes; Paul retreated to Arabia after his Damascus conversion; the Magi may have come from the Arabian region.
Modern Context
The Arabian Peninsula today encompasses Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The ancient Nabataean city of Petra in Jordan (just north of Arabia) is one of the most spectacular archaeological sites in the world, testifying to the wealth generated by the ancient spice trade.