Introduction:
Arphad, also known as Arpad, is a city mentioned in the Bible, primarily in the context of prophetic literature and historical narratives. It is often associated with the Assyrian campaigns and is located in the region of Syria. The city holds significance in biblical history due to its mention in the context of divine judgment and military conquests.

Biblical References:
Arphad is referenced in several passages within the Old Testament. The primary mentions are found in the books of 2 Kings, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. These references highlight the city's involvement in the geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East.

1. 2 Kings 18:34 : "Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand?" This verse is part of the speech by the Assyrian Rabshakeh, who taunts the people of Jerusalem by questioning the power of the gods of other cities, including Arphad, which had fallen to Assyria.

2. Isaiah 10:9 : "Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?" Here, the prophet Isaiah records the words of the Assyrian king, who boasts of his conquests, comparing Arphad to other cities that have been subdued.

3. Jeremiah 49:23 : "Concerning Damascus: Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard bad news; they are disheartened, troubled like the restless sea." This prophecy against Damascus includes Arphad, indicating its strategic importance and the impact of impending judgment.

Historical and Geographical Context:
Arphad was a fortified city located in northern Syria, near modern-day Aleppo. It was an important center during the Neo-Assyrian period and was known for its resistance against Assyrian expansion. The city's strategic location made it a target for conquest as empires sought to control trade routes and regional power.

Theological Significance:
In the biblical narrative, Arphad serves as a symbol of human pride and the futility of relying on false gods and military might. The repeated mention of Arphad alongside other cities that fell to Assyria underscores the theme of divine sovereignty and judgment. The prophets use Arphad as an example to illustrate the consequences of defying the God of Israel and the ultimate triumph of His will over earthly powers.

Conclusion:
Arphad's inclusion in the biblical text serves as a reminder of the historical realities faced by the people of Israel and their neighbors. It highlights the broader narrative of God's interaction with the nations and His control over history. The city's fate, as recorded in Scripture, is a testament to the prophetic warnings delivered by God's messengers and the fulfillment of His purposes in the world.ARPAD; ARPHAD

ar'-pad; ar'-fad ('arpadh, "support"): A city of Syria, captured frequently by the Assyrians, and finally subjugated by Tiglath-pileser III in 740 B.C., after a siege of two years. It is now the ruin Tell Erfad, 13 miles Northwest of Aleppo. Arpad is one of the conquered cities mentioned by Rabshakeh, the officer of Sennacherib, in his boast before Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:34; 2 Kings 19:13 Isaiah 36:19; Isaiah 37:13; the King James Version Arphad). Isaiah puts a boast about its capture in the mouth of the Assyrian king (Isaiah 10:9), and Jeremiah mentions it as "confounded" because of evil tidings, in the oracle concerning Damascus (Jeremiah 49:23). On every occasion Arpad is mentioned with Hamath.

S. F. Hunter

774. Arpad -- a city in Aram (Syria)
... Arpad, Arphad. From raphad; spread out; Arpad, a place in Syria -- Arpad, Arphad.
see HEBREW raphad. 773, 774. Arpad. 775 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/774.htm - 6k

Deliverance from Assyria
... Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the
king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad? ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 30 deliverance from assyria.htm

Order and Argument in Prayer
... It is full of blasphemy, will that help him? "Where are the gods of Arphad and
Sepharvaim? Where are the gods of the cities which I have overthrown? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 12 1866/order and argument in prayer.htm

Arphad (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ARPAD; ARPHAD. ... SF Hunter. Multi-Version Concordance
Arphad (2 Occurrences). Isaiah 36:19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad...
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Arpad (6 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Isaiah 10:9; 36:19; 37:13), also Arphad, support, a Syrian
city near ... Now Tell Erfud. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ARPAD; ARPHAD. ...
/a/arpad.htm - 10k

Arphaxad (10 Occurrences)

/a/arphaxad.htm - 10k

Ivah (3 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Isaiah 37:13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and
the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? (KJV WBS). ...
/i/ivah.htm - 7k

Ardat
... ARDAT. ard'-at (the King James Version Ardath; Syriac and Ethiopic have Arphad):
A certain field where Ezra communed with God (2 Esdras 9:26). ...
/a/ardat.htm - 6k

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