Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
•From the book of Chronicles there would seem to have been a Tarshish accessible from the Red
Sea, in addition to the Tarshish of the south of Spain. Thus, with regard to the ships of Tarshish,
which Jehoshaphat caused to be constructed at Ezion-geber on the Elanitic Gulf of the Red Sea,
(1 Kings 22:48) it is said in the Chronicles, (2 Chronicles 20:36) that they were made to go to
Tarshish; and in like manner the navy of ships, which Solomon had previously made in Ezion-geber,
(1 Kings 9:26) is said in the Chronicles, (2 Chronicles 9:21) to have gone to Tarshish with the
servants of Hiram. It is not to be supposed that the author of these passages in the Chronicles
contemplated a voyage to Tarshish in the south of Spain by going round what has since been called
the Cape of Good Hope. The expression “ships of Tarshish” originally meant ships destined to go
to Tarshish; and then probably came to signify large Phoenician ships, of a particular size the
description, destined for long voyages, just as in English “East Indiaman” was a general name
given to vessels, some of which were not intended to go to India at all. Hence we may infer that
the word Tarshish was also used to signify any distant place, and in this case would be applied to
one in the Indian Ocean. This is shown by the nature of the imports with which the fleet returned,
which are specified as “gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks .” (1 Kings 10:22) The gold might
possibly have been obtained form Africa, or from Ophir in Arabia, and the ivory and the apes
might likewise have been imported from Africa; but the peacocks point conclusively, not to Africa,
but to India. There are only two species known: both inhabit the mainland and islands of India;
so that the mention of the peacock seems to exclude the possibility of the voyage having been to
Africa.
Tarsus
the chief town of Cilicia, “no mean city” in other respects, but illustrious to all time as the
birthplace and early residence of the apostle Paul. (Acts 9:11; 21:39; 22:3) Even in the flourishing
period of Greek history it was a city of some considerable consequence. In the civil wars of Rome
it took Caesar’s aide, sad on the occasion of a visit from him had its name changed to Juliopolis.
Augustus made it a “free city.” It was renowned as a place of education under the early Roman
emperors. Strabo compares it in this respect to Athens unto Alexandria. Tarsus also was a place of
much commerce. It was situated in a wild and fertile plain on the banks of the Cydnus. No ruins
of any importance remain.
Tartak
(prince of darkness), one of the gods of the Avite or Avvite colonists of Samaria. (2 Kings
17:31) According to rabbinical tradition, Tartak is said to have been worshipped under the form of
an ass.
Tartan
which occurs only in (2 Kings 18:17) and Isai 20:1 Has been generally regarded as a proper
name; like Rabsaris and Rabshakeh, it is more probably an official designation, and indicates the
Assyrian commander-in-chief.
Tatnai
(gift), satrap of the province west of the Euphrates in the time of Darius Hystaspes. (Ezra 5:3,6;
6:6,13) (B.C. 520.) The name is thought to be Persian.
Taverns, The Three
[Three Taverns TAVERNS]
Taxes
735
William Smith