Strabo says the same. Εστι μεν ουν τοπος επισημος ὁυτος, και τ' ουνομα· μεθερμηνευθεν γαρ εστι Καμηλου οικος. l. 16. p. 1072.
[374] Ὁι μεν τα πλειστα συγγραψαντες λεγουσιν, ὁτι ἑξακοσιους σταδιους απεχει, ὁιδε τα ελαχιστα, ὁτι ες πεντακοσιους.
Αλλα εν Γαυγαμηλοις γαρ γενεσθαι την μαχην προς τῳ ποταμῳ Βουμαδῳ λεγει Πτολεμαιος και Αριστοβουλος· πολις δε ουκ ην τα Γαυγαμηλα, αλλα κωμη μεγαλη, ουδε ονομαστος ὁ χωρος, ουδε εις ακοην ἡδυ το ονομα.
Arrian. Expedit. Alex. l. 6. p. 247.
[375] Strabo. l. 16. p. 1072.
[376] Strabo acknowledges the failure of his countrymen in this respect.—Πολλα μεν ουν και μη οντα λεγουσιν ὁι Αρχαιοι Συγγραφεις, συντεθραμμενοι τῳ ψευδει δια της μυθολογιας. l. 8. p. 524.
[377] All thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Beth Arbel in the day of battle. The mother was dashed in pieces upon her children. Hosea. c. 10. v. 14. Ar in this place does not signify a city; but
אור
, the title of the Deity: from whence was derived ἱερος of the Greeks. The seventy, according to some of their best copies, have rendered Beth Arbel οικον Ιερο-Βααλ, which is no improper version of Beth-Aur-Bel. In some copies we find it altered to the house of Jeroboam; but this is a mistake for Jero-Baal. Arbelus is by some represented as the first deified mortal. Cyril contra Julian. l. 1. p. 10. and l. 3. p. 110.
There was an Arbela in Sicily. Stephanus, and Suidas. Also in Galilee; situated upon a vast cavern. Josephus seized and fortified it. Josephi Vita. p. 29.