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William Smith

Smith’s Bible Dictionary

Public-domain Bible dictionary edition · 4,561 entries on site

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Abimelech

(father of the king), the name of several Philistine kings, was probably a common title of these kings, like that of Pharaoh among the Egyptians and that of Caesar and Augustus among the Romans. Hence in the title of ( Psalms 34:1 ) ... the name of Abimelech is given to the king, who is called Achish in ( 1 Samuel 21:11 ) A Philistine, king of Gerar, Genesis 20,21 , who, exercising the right claimed by Eastern princes of collecting all the beautiful women of their dominions into their harem, ( Genesis 12:15 ; Esther 2:3 ) sent for and took Sarah. A similar account is given of Abraham’s conduct of this occasion to that of his behavior towards Pharaoh. [ Abraham ] (B.C. 1920.) Another king of Gerar int he time of Isaac, of whom a similar narrative is recorded in relation to Rebekah. ( Genesis 26:1 ) etc. (B.C. 1817.) Son of the judge Gideon by his Shechemite concubine. ( Judges 8:31 ) (B.C. 1322-1319.) After his father’s death he murdered all his brethren, 70 in number, with the exception of Jotham, the youngest, who concealed himself; and he then persuaded the Shechemites to elect him king. Shechem now became an independent state. After Abimelech had reigned three years, the citizens of Shechem rebelled. He was absent at the time, but he returned and quelled the insurrection. Shortly after he stormed and took Thebez, but was struck on the head by a woman with the fragment of a millstone, comp. ( 2 Samuel 11:21 ) and lest he should be said to have died by a woman, he bade his armor-bearer slay him. A son of Abiathar. ( 1 Chronicles 18:16 )

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 ]