Tarpelites (Hastings' Dictionary)
One of the peoples settled by Assurbanipal (?) iu the cities of Samaria, Ezr 4'. Their identity is quite uncertain. Kawlin- son suggested the Ttiplai of the Inscriptions, i.e. the TifSapri^oi on the coast of Poutus ; Hitzig con- jectured Tripolis in N. Phoenicia.
This topic also has an entry in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Both articles offer independent scholarly perspectives.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Tarpelites
Tarpelites tar'-pel-its (Tarpelaye' (Ezr 4:9)): Various theories have been advanced as to the identity of the Tarpelites. Rawlinson suggested the Tuplai, which name appears in the inscriptions as equivalent to the Greek Tibarenoi, a tribe on the coast of Pontus. Hitzig located them in Tripolis in Northern Phoenicia. The latest theory emends the text to Tiphceraya', "tablet-writers" (from the Assyrian dup sarru); compare Schrader, Schrader, The Cuneiform Inscriptions and the Old Testament, on Jer 51:27. ⇒See a list of verses on TARPELITES in the Bible. ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia.
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Tarpelites
Ezr 4:9. Colonists planted in Samaria after Israel's deportation by Assyria. Conjectured to be the Tapyri, a Median tribe E. of Elymais (Ptolemy vi. 2, section 6), or the Tarpetes, a Maeotic race (Strabo, 11:495).
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