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Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898–1904) · Public Domain

Toparchy (Hastings' Dictionary)

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898–1904)· Public Domain

A word used only in 1 Mac 11-', and there to denote three 'provinces' (RV ; AV ' governments ') to which the name i-o/iis, or 'noine' (AV and RV 'governments'), is given in 1 iMac lO'' 11«. The three toparchies — Apha-rema, that is, Ephraim-Ophrah, Lydda, and Ramathaim — were detached from Samaria and added to Judipa some time before the war between Alexander IJalas and Demetrius Soter, and their possession was conlirmed to Jonathan Maccab;eus by Demetrius II. Nikator.

The toi)archy was a small administrative division, corresponding to the Turlcish Nnldeh, which was administered by a toparch as the Nahieh is by a mudir. According to Pliny (v. 14), Jud;ea was divided into ten, or, according to Joseplius (BJ III. iii. 5), into eleven toparchies. See Schiirer, HJP u. L 151 ff. C. W. Wilson.

Also in the Encyclopedia
Toparchy — ISBE (1915) article

This topic also has an entry in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Both articles offer independent scholarly perspectives.

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Toparchy

Toparchy to'-par-ki, top'-ar-ki (toparchia): the King James Version renders this Greek word by "government" in 1 Macc 11:28 (the King James Version margin and the Revised Version (British and American) "province"). It denotes a small administrative district corresponding to the modern Turkish Nahieh, administered by a Mudir. Three such districts were detached from the country of Samaria and added to Judea. Elsewhere (1 Macc 10:30; 11:34) the word used to describe them is nomos. Some idea of the size of these districts may be gathered from the fact that Judea was divided into ten (Pliny v.14) or eleven (BJ, III, iii, 5) toparchies. ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia.

References

  1. Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
  2. Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
  3. Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
  4. Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
  5. Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
  6. Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia

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