עֲרָבָה

1. earliest use:
\ \ a. arid steppe west of Dead Sea (in southern Judah) 1 Sam 23,24, also Ezk 47,8; Es 51,3, whence name ׳יָם הָע Jos 3,16 (JE) || יָם הַמֶּלַח), also 2 Kong 14,25; 5 Mos 4,49, and (|| id.) 5 Mos 3,17; Jos 12,3 (D); נַחַל הָעֲרָבָה Amos 6,14 must be east of Dead Sea, si vera lectio, but read probably מִצְרַיִם ׳נ see נַחַל.
\ \ b. Jordan-valley west of river + adjacent plain; near ford (opposite Jericho) 2 Sam 2,29, compare Jos 8,14 (JE); also 5 Mos 11,30; 2 Kong 25,4 = Jer 39,4 = Jer 52,7 — 2 Sam 15,28; 2 Sam 17,16 see עֲבָרָה
\ \ c. Jordan-valley east of river 2 Sam 4,7.

2. in D:
\ \ a. especially of east Jordan plain 5 Mos 1,1 (probably) Jos 12,1; Jos 12,3, east half of Jordan-valley 5 Mos 3,17; 5 Mos 4,49 of entire Jordan-valley (between כִּנֶּרֶת and Dead Sea, modern El-Ghôr, the Depression) 5 Mos 1,7; Jos 11,2; Jos 11,16 west Jordan plain only Jos 12,8 depression south of Dead Sea (modern Wady el-`Arabah) 5 Mos 2,8.

3. in P always plural construct עַרְבוֺת מוֺאָב (east Jordan) 4 Mos 22,1 + 11 t. (see מוֺאָב); עְרֵחוֺ ׳ע (West Jordan) Jos 4,13; Jos 5,10, also 2 Kong 25,5 = Jer 39,5 = Jer 52,8.

4. apparently North Arabian desert Es 40,3; Es 41,19.

5. in general the steppe (often || מִדְבָּר), Jer 17,6; Jer 50,12; Es 33,9; Es 35,1; Es 35,6; Job 24,5; Job 39,6; Sl 68,5 זְאֵב עֲרָבוֺת Jer 5,6 (figurative of invader); compare description of Exodus אֶרֶץ עֲרָבָה וְשׁוּחָה Jer 2,6 in simile, of a plain, of future land of Judah Zak 14,10. — See Dr^{5 Mos 1,1 and references} Buhl^{Geogr. 111}.