Beeltethmus (Hastings' Dictionary)
An officer of Artaxerxes residing in Pal., 1 Es 2'»-2» (LXX ">•"). It is not a proper name, but a title of Kehum, the name immediately preceding it in Ezr 4' (A ^aoXrd/u'). It is a corruption of Dya Syj = ' lord of judgment,' and is rendered 'chancellor' by AV and RV in Ezr, ' story, svriter ' in 1 Es 2" (4 rd TpoairlirToi'To., LXX). The title has been explained by the Assyr. inscriptions, and signifies 'lord of official intelligence' or 'postmaster' (Sayce, Introd. to Ezr., Neh., and Est. p.
27). See Chancellor. H. St. J. Thackeray.
This topic also has an entry in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Both articles offer independent scholarly perspectives.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Beeltethmus
Beeltethmus be-el-teth'-mus (Beeltethmos; Balthemus): One of the officers of King Artaxerxes in Palestine (1 Esdras 2:16,25). According to Professor Sayce, the name by etymology means "lord of official intelligence" or "postmaster." Rendered "chancellor" in Ezr 4:8 and "story-writer" in 1 Esdras 2:17. ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia.
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia
