Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Frankie) #1

(the great warrior).
•The first Artaxerxes is mentioned in (Ezra 4:7) and appears identical with Smerdis, the Magian
impostor and pretended brother of Cambyses, who usurped the throne B.C. 522, and reigned eight
months.
•In (Nehemiah 2:1) we have another Artaxerxes. We may safely identify him with Artaxerxes
Macrocheir or Longimanus, the son of Xerxces, who reigned B.C. 464-425.
Artemas
(gift of Artemis), a companion of St. Paul. (Titus 3:12) According to tradition he was bishop
of Lystra.
Aruboth
(windows), the third of Solomons commissariat districts. (1 Kings 4:10) It included Sochoh,
and was therefore probably a name for the rich corn-growing lowland country.
Arumah
(height), a place apparently in the neighborhood of Shechem, at which Abimelech resided.
(Judges 9:41)
Arvad
(wandering) (Ezekiel 27:8,11) The island of Ruad, which lies off Tortosa (Tartus), two or three
miles from the Phoenician coast. In agreement with this is the mention of “the Arvadite, in (Genesis
10:18) and 1Chr 1:16 As a son of Canaan, with Zidon, Hamath an other northern localities.
Arvadite
[Arvad]
Arza
prefect of the palace at Tirzah to Elah king of Israel, who was assassinated at a banquet in his
house by Zimri. (1 Kings 16:9)
Asa
(physician, or cure).
•Son of Abijah and third king of Judah. (B.C. 956-916.) (His long reign of 41 years was peaceful
in its earlier portion, and he undertook the reformation of all abuses, especially of idolatry. He
burnt the symbol of his grandmother Maachah’s religion and deposed her from the dignity of
“king’s mother,”) and renewed the great altar which the idolatrous priests apparently had desecrated.
(2 Chronicles 15:8) Besides this he fortified cities on his frontiers, and raised an army, amounting,
according to (2 Chronicles 14:8) to 580,000 men, a number probably exaggerated by an error of
the copyist. During Asa’s reign, Zerah, at the head of an enormous host, (2 Chronicles 14:9)
attacked Mareshah. There he was utterly defeated, and driven back with immense loss to Gerar.
The peace which followed this victory was broken by the attempt of Baasha of Israel to fortify
Ramah. To stop this Asa purchased the help of Benhadad I. king of Damascus, by a large payment
of treasure, forced Baasha to abandon his purpose, and destroyed the works which he had begun
at Ramah. In his old age Asa suffered from gout, He died, greatly loved and honored, in the 41st
year of his reign.
•Ancestor of Berechiah a Levite who resided in one of the villages of the Netophathites after the
return from Babylon. (1 Chronicles 9:16)
Asahel
(made by God).

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