(Genesis 16:12) The Mosaic law on the subject of theft is contained in (Exodus 2:2) There seems
no reason to suppose that the law underwent any alteration in Solomon’s time. Man-stealing was
punishable with death. (Exodus 21:16; 24:7) Invasion of right in land was strictly forbidden. (27:17;
Isaiah 5:8; Micah 2:2)
Roe, Roebuck
The Hebrew words thus translated denote some species of antelope, probably the Gazella arabica
of Syria and Arabia. The gazelle was allowed as food, (12:15,22) etc.; it is mentioned as very fleet
of foot, (2 Samuel 2:18; 1 Chronicles 12:8) it was hunted, (Isaiah 13:14; Proverbs 6:5) it was
celebrated for its loveliness. (Song of Solomon 2:9,17; 8:14)
Rogelim
(fullers) the residence of Barzillai the Gileadite, (2 Samuel 17:27; 19:31) in the highlands east
of the Jordan.
Rohgah
(clamor), an Asherite, of the sons of Shamer. (1 Chronicles 7:34) (B.C. about 1490.)
Roll
A book in ancient times consisted of a single long strip of paper or parchment, which was
usually kept rolled upon a stick, and was unrolled when a person wished to read it. The roll was
usually written on one side only, and hence the particular notice of one that was “written within
and without.” (Ezekiel 2:10) The writing was arranged in columns.
Romamtiezer
one of the fourteen sons of Heman. (1 Chronicles 25:4,31) (B.C. about 1014.)
Roman Empire
The first historic mention of Rome in the Bible is in 1 Macc. 1:10, about the year 161 B.C. in the
year 65 B.C., when Syria was made a Roman province by Pompey, the Jews were still governed
•
by one of the Asmonaean princes. The next year Pompey himself marched an army into Judea
and took Jerusalem. From this time the Jews were practically under the government of Rome.
Finally, Antipater’s son Herod the Great was made king by Antony’s interest, B.C. 40, and
confirmed in the kingdom by Augustus, B.C. 30. The Jews, however, were all this time tributaries
of Rome, and their princes in reality were Roman procurators, On the banishment of Archelaus,
A.D. 6, Judea became a mere appendage of the province of Syria, and was governed by a Roman
procurator, who resided at Caesarea. Such were the relations of the Jewish people to the Roman
government at the time when the New Testament history begins.
•Extent of the empire .—Cicero’s description of the Greek states and colonies as a “fringe on the
skirts of barbarism” has been well applied to the Roman dominions before the conquests of Pompey
and Caesar. The Roman empire was still confined to a narrow strip encircling the Mediterranean
Sea. Pompey added Asia Minor and Syria. Caesar added Gaul. The generals of Augustus overran
the northwest Portion of Spain and the country between the Alps and the Danube. The boundaries
of the empire were now the Atlantic on the west, the Euphrates on the east, the deserts of Africa,
the cataracts of the Nile and the Arabian deserts on the south, the British Channel, the Rhine, the
Danube and the Black Sea on the north. The only subsequent conquests of importance were those
of Britain by Claudius and of Dacia by Trajan. The only independent powers of importance were
the Parthians on the east and the Germans on the north. The population of the empire in the time
of Augustus has been calculated at 85,000,000.