Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Attai
(opportune).
•Grandson of Sheshan the Jerahmeelite through his daughter Ahlai, whom he gave in marriage to
Jarha, his Egyptian slave. (1 Chronicles 2:35,36) His grandson Zabad was one of David’s mighty
men. (1 Chronicles 11:41)
•One of the lion-faced warriors of Gad, captains of the host, who forded the Jordan at the time of
its overflow and joined David in the wilderness. (1 Chronicles 12:11) (B.C. 1060.)
•Second son of King Rehoboam by Maachah the daughter of Absalom. (2 Chronicles 11:20) (B.C.
975.)
Attalia
(from Attalus), a coast-town of Pamphylia, mentioned (Acts 14:25) It was built by Attalus
Philadelphus, king of Pergamos, and named after the monarch. All its remains are characteristic of
the date of its foundation. Leake fixes Attalia at Adalia, on the south court of Asia Minor, north of
the Duden Su, the ancient Catarrhactes.
Augustus
(venerable) Cae’sar, the first Roman emperor. He was born A.U.C. 691, B.C. 63. His father
was Caius Octavius; his mother Atia, daughter of Julia the sister of C. Julius Caesar. He was
principally educated by his great-uncle Julius Caesar, and was made his heir. After his murder, the
young Octavius, then Caius Julius Caesar Octavianus, was taken into the triumvirate with Antony
and Lepidus, and, after the removal of the latter, divided the empire with Antony. The struggle for
the supreme power was terminated in favor of Octavianus by the battle of Actium, B.C. 31. On this
victory he was saluted imperator by the senate, who conferred on him the title Augustus, B.C. 27.
The first link binding him to New Testament history is his treatment of Herod after the battle of
Actium. That prince, who had espoused Antony’s side, found himself pardoned, taken into favor
and confirmed, nay even increased, in his power. After Herod’s death, in A.D. 4, Augustus divided
his dominions, almost exactly according to his dying directions, among his sons. Augustus died in
Nola in Campania, Aug. 19, A.U.C. 767, A.D. 14, in his 76th year; but long before his death he
had associated Tiberius with him in the empire.
Augustus Band
(Acts 27:1) [Army]
Ava
(ruin), a place in the empire of Assyria, apparently the same as Ivan. (2 Kings 17:24)
Aven
(nothingness).
•The “plain of Aven” is mentioned by (Amos 1:5) in his denunciation of Syria and the country to
the north of Palestine. This Aven is by some supposed to be the once magnificent Heiropolis, “city
of I the sun,” now Baalbek (Bal’bek) of Coele-Syria, whose ruins are one of the wonders of the
ages. It was situated in a plain near the foot of the Anti-Libanus range of mountains, 42 miles
northwest of Damascus. It is famous for the colossal ruins of its temples, one of which with its
courts and porticos, extended over 1000 feet in length. The temples were built of marble or
limestone and granite. Some of the columns were 7 feet in diameter and 62 feet high, or including
capital and pedestal, 89 feet. Some of the building-stones were 64 feet long and 12 feet thick. The
temples are of Roman origin.
72
William Smith