Arpad

City in Northwest Syria, currently called Tell Rif'at

Arpad

Arpad is mentioned in Nephi’s reiteration of Isaiah’s prophecies where the Assyrians’ conquests are recounted as evidence of their expanding empire and might. The city is referenced in a rhetorical question, contrasting its fate with that of other well-known cities of the time, suggesting a commonality in their subjugation: “Is not Calno as Carchemish? Is not Hamath as Arpad? Is not Samaria as Damascus?” (2 Nephi 20:9). The mention of Arpad alongside other cities indicates its recognized status and the impact of its capture on the region. During the period in question, the Assyrians were a dominant force in the Near East, and the fall of cities like Arpad would have been noteworthy, symbolizing the extension of Assyrian power and the vulnerability of neighboring states. Arpad’s fall to the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III in 742 B.C., after a prolonged siege, marked a significant event in the Assyrian conquests. This city’s capture is emblematic of the challenges faced by the kingdoms of the ancient Near East during this era of Assyrian ascendancy.

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