ARCH . It is usually stated that the Hebrews were unacquainted with the architectural principle of the arch, but in view of the extreme antiquity of the arch in Babylonian mason work, as e.g. at Nippur, of the discovery of early arches by recent explorers, and of the vaulted roofs of later Jewish tombs, this view is now seen to be erroneous, although the arch is not mentioned in Scripture. The word ‘arch’ does, indeed, occur in the EV [Note: English Version.] of Ezekiel 40:16 ff., but this is a mistake for ‘porch,’ ‘porches.’ See Temple.

A. R. S. Kennedy.