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created brief article ethnarch
'''Ethnarch''' is the anglicized form of the Greek '''εθνάρχες ''ethnarches'''''. It refers generally to political leadership over a common [[ethnic group]] or homogeneous kingdom. The word is derived from the Greek ἔθνος ''ethnos'', ethnic group "tribe/nation") and ἄρχων ''archon'', "leader/ruler". [[Strong's|Strong's concordance]] gives the definition of 'ethnarch' as "the governor (not king) of a district."<ref>''[http://biblehub.com/greek/1481.htm Strong's number ''1481'' ἐθνάρχης ''ethnarchos'' (biblehub.com)]</ref>
In [[Ancient History|Antiquity]], the title first appeared in the [[Hellenistic]] [[Middle East]]. In the [[1 Maccabees|First book of Maccabees]] the word is used three times (1 Maccabees 14:47 and 15:1-2), where Simon Thassi, one of the five [[Maccabee]]s is referred to as the [[High Priest]] and ethnarch of the Judeans.
:"And Simon accepted and was pleased to be high priest and to be commander and '''ethnarch''' of the Judeans and priests and to protect all of them." ([[1 Maccabees]] 14:47, New English Translation of the Septuagint [NETS]).<ref>''[http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/nets/edition/20-1makk-nets.pdf 1 Makkabees].'' Transl. George Themelis Zervos. In: Albert Pietersma and Benjamin G. Wright (Eds.). A NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE SEPTUAGINT. Oxford University Press, 2009. p. 500.</ref>
The title was used even after the region fell under the dominion of Rome unto the early [[Roman Empire]], to refer to rulers of vassal kingdoms who did not rise to the level of [[king]]s. The Romans used the Latin terms ''natio'' and ''gens'' for a people as a genetic and cultural entity, regardless of political statehood.
The best-known is probably Herod Archelaus, son of [[Herod the Great]], who was ethnarch of [[Samaria]], [[Judea]] (Biblical Judah), and Idumea (Biblical [[Edom]]), from the death of his father in 4 B.C. to A.D. 6. The territory was known as the Tetrarchy (''ruler of a quarter'') of Judea. His brother Philip was assigned the north-east of the realm as ''Tetrarch''; and Galilee was assigned to [[Herod Antipas]], who bore the same title. Herod Archelaus' title of ''ethnarch'' designated him as the senior ruler, higher in rank than the tetrarchs and the chief of the Jewish nation; these three sovereignties were in a sense reunited under [[Herod Agrippa]] from A.D. 41 to 44.
Before 63 B.C., Hyrcanus II, grandson of [[John Hyrcanus|Hyrcanus I]], held the title of both ethnarch and [[High Priest]]. (See [[Pompey]].)
In the [[New Testament]] the word is used only once by the [[Paul the Apostle|Apostle Paul]] in his [[2 Corinthians|Second Epistle to the Corinthians]].
:"In Damascus the '''ethnarch''' under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me," (2 Corinthians 11:32}
However the definition of the word there in terms of the actual jurisdiction and public office of the ethnarch may not be accurately determined.
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
[[category:Judaism]]
[[category:Middle East]]
[[category:New Testament]]
In [[Ancient History|Antiquity]], the title first appeared in the [[Hellenistic]] [[Middle East]]. In the [[1 Maccabees|First book of Maccabees]] the word is used three times (1 Maccabees 14:47 and 15:1-2), where Simon Thassi, one of the five [[Maccabee]]s is referred to as the [[High Priest]] and ethnarch of the Judeans.
:"And Simon accepted and was pleased to be high priest and to be commander and '''ethnarch''' of the Judeans and priests and to protect all of them." ([[1 Maccabees]] 14:47, New English Translation of the Septuagint [NETS]).<ref>''[http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/nets/edition/20-1makk-nets.pdf 1 Makkabees].'' Transl. George Themelis Zervos. In: Albert Pietersma and Benjamin G. Wright (Eds.). A NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE SEPTUAGINT. Oxford University Press, 2009. p. 500.</ref>
The title was used even after the region fell under the dominion of Rome unto the early [[Roman Empire]], to refer to rulers of vassal kingdoms who did not rise to the level of [[king]]s. The Romans used the Latin terms ''natio'' and ''gens'' for a people as a genetic and cultural entity, regardless of political statehood.
The best-known is probably Herod Archelaus, son of [[Herod the Great]], who was ethnarch of [[Samaria]], [[Judea]] (Biblical Judah), and Idumea (Biblical [[Edom]]), from the death of his father in 4 B.C. to A.D. 6. The territory was known as the Tetrarchy (''ruler of a quarter'') of Judea. His brother Philip was assigned the north-east of the realm as ''Tetrarch''; and Galilee was assigned to [[Herod Antipas]], who bore the same title. Herod Archelaus' title of ''ethnarch'' designated him as the senior ruler, higher in rank than the tetrarchs and the chief of the Jewish nation; these three sovereignties were in a sense reunited under [[Herod Agrippa]] from A.D. 41 to 44.
Before 63 B.C., Hyrcanus II, grandson of [[John Hyrcanus|Hyrcanus I]], held the title of both ethnarch and [[High Priest]]. (See [[Pompey]].)
In the [[New Testament]] the word is used only once by the [[Paul the Apostle|Apostle Paul]] in his [[2 Corinthians|Second Epistle to the Corinthians]].
:"In Damascus the '''ethnarch''' under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me," (2 Corinthians 11:32}
However the definition of the word there in terms of the actual jurisdiction and public office of the ethnarch may not be accurately determined.
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
[[category:Judaism]]
[[category:Middle East]]
[[category:New Testament]]