### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Bêyth ʼArbêʼl**, represented by `{{H1009}}`, is a proper name for a place in Palestine. Its name is derived from words meaning **house of God's ambush**. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible, where it serves as a historical benchmark for catastrophic destruction.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single appearance of `{{H1009}}` is in the prophetic warnings of Hosea. The prophet foretells a coming judgment upon Israel, stating that a great **tumult** `{{H7588}}` will arise and that all their **fortresses** `{{H4013}}` will be spoiled. To illustrate the severity of this event, he compares it to when **Shalman** `{{H8020}}` **spoiled** `{{H7701}}` **Betharbel** `{{H1009}}` in the day of **battle** `{{H4421}}`. The scene is one of absolute devastation, where "the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children" [[Hosea 10:14]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in its only context paint a vivid picture of this event:
* `{{H8020}}` **Shalman**: The name of the foreign king who carried out the destruction of Beth-Arbel, serving as the agent of the spoiling [[Hosea 10:14]].
* `{{H7703}}` **shâdad**: This root means to ravage or destroy. It is used to describe what will happen to Israel's fortresses, mirroring the fate of Beth-Arbel [[Hosea 10:14]].
* `{{H7376}}` **râṭâsh**: Meaning to dash down or in pieces, this word describes the brutal fate of the mothers and children during the city's fall, emphasizing the totality of the violence [[Hosea 10:14]].
* `{{H4421}}` **milchâmâh** (battle): This term specifies the context of Beth-Arbel's destruction as an act of war, providing the setting for the prophesied judgment on Israel [[Hosea 10:14]].
* `{{H4013}}` **mibtsâr** (fortress): The fortified cities of Israel are the direct objects of the prophesied spoiling, just as Beth-Arbel, a fortified place, was previously destroyed [[Hosea 10:14]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1009}}` is derived entirely from its use as a symbol of divine judgment in prophecy.
* **A Benchmark for Total Destruction:** Beth-Arbel is not just a place but an event. Its destruction is used as the ultimate example of complete and merciless ruin, setting the standard for the coming judgment on God's people [[Hosea 10:14]].
* **The Consequence of Rebellion:** The reference to Beth-Arbel serves as a historical warning. The prophet uses this known catastrophe to make the consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness tangible and unavoidable.
* **The Helplessness of Human Defenses:** The prophecy explicitly states that all of Israel's **fortresses** `{{H4013}}` will be **spoiled** `{{H7703}}`, just as Beth-Arbel was. This underscores the futility of human strength and fortifications when facing God's judgment.
### Summary
In summary, **Bêyth ʼArbêʼl** `{{H1009}}` is a place name whose biblical significance is locked into a single, powerful image. Appearing only in Hosea, it functions as a historical shorthand for utter devastation. The name itself, "house of God's ambush," combined with its use as a prophetic warning, transforms it from a mere location into a sobering symbol of the terrible consequences that follow a nation's turning away from God.
TRV