Bible Dictionaries
Petra
Holman Bible Dictionary
(peh' traw) Capital city of the Nabatean Arabs located about 60 miles north of the Gulf of Aqabah. Petra is sometimes identified with Sela (Judges 1:36; 2 Kings 14:7; Isaiah 16:1; Isaiah 42:11 ), because both names mean, “rock.” Lack of archaeological evidence of Edomite settlement in the basin suggests that Sela is better identified with Um el Bayyarah on the mountain plateau overlooking Petra. The Nabatean king Aretas IV (2 Corinthians 11:32-33 ) reigned from Petra.
Copyright Statement
These dictionary topics are from the Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
Bibliography Information
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Petra'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hbd/p/petra.html. 1991.