Topical Encyclopedia
A toparchy refers to a small administrative district or region, often governed by a toparch, within larger political entities such as a province or kingdom. The term is derived from the Greek "toparchia," meaning "place" or "district," and "archia," meaning "rule" or "authority." In the context of biblical history, toparchies were subdivisions of larger territories, particularly during the Hellenistic and Roman periods in the land of Israel.
Historical ContextDuring the intertestamental period and into the New Testament era, the land of Israel was divided into several toparchies. These divisions were part of the administrative organization under the Seleucid and later Roman rule. The concept of a toparchy was significant in understanding the political and social landscape of Judea and surrounding regions during the time of Jesus and the early church.
Biblical ReferencesWhile the term "toparchy" itself does not appear in the Bible, the concept is relevant to understanding the geopolitical divisions mentioned in the New Testament. For instance, the Gospel of Luke refers to various regions and rulers, which can be understood in the context of toparchies. In
Luke 3:1 , it states, "In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene." These tetrarchies were similar to toparchies, as they were smaller regions governed by local rulers under the overarching authority of the Roman Empire.
Role and FunctionToparchies served as administrative units that facilitated governance and tax collection. They were often centered around a city or a significant town, which acted as the administrative hub. The toparch, or local governor, was responsible for maintaining order, implementing the policies of the higher authorities, and ensuring the collection of taxes and tributes.
Significance in the New Testament EraUnderstanding the concept of toparchies helps illuminate the political and social dynamics of the New Testament period. The division of territories into smaller administrative units allowed for more efficient governance by the Roman authorities and provided a framework within which local leaders could exercise a degree of autonomy. This structure is evident in the interactions between Roman officials and Jewish leaders, as seen in the trial of Jesus and the governance of Judea.
Archaeological and Historical EvidenceArchaeological findings and historical records from the period provide evidence of the existence and function of toparchies. Inscriptions, coins, and historical writings from Jewish historian Flavius Josephus offer insights into the administrative divisions and the role of toparchies in the broader context of Roman rule in the region.
ConclusionThe concept of a toparchy, while not explicitly mentioned in the biblical text, is crucial for understanding the administrative and political landscape of the New Testament era. It highlights the complexity of governance in the land of Israel under Roman rule and provides context for the interactions between various political and religious leaders during the time of Jesus and the early church.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) A small state, consisting of a few cities or towns; a petty country governed by a toparch; as, Judea was formerly divided into ten toparchies.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
TOPARCHYto'-par-ki, top'-ar-ki (toparchia): the King James Version renders this Greek word by "government" in 1 Maccabees 11:28 (the King James Version margin and the Revised Version (British and American) "province"). It denotes a small administrative district corresponding to the modern Turkish Nahieh, administered by a Mudir. Three such districts were detached from the country of Samaria and added to Judea. Elsewhere (1 Maccabees 10:30; 11:34) the word used to describe them is nomos. Some idea of the size of these districts may be gathered from the fact that Judea was divided into ten (Pliny v.14) or eleven (BJ, III, iii, 5) toparchies.
Library
How Vespasian Upon Hearing of Some Commotions in Gall, Made Haste...
... And when he had laid waste all the places about thetoparchy of Thamnas, he passed
on to Lydda and Jamnia; and when both these cities had come over to him, he...
That Vespasian, after He had Taken Gadara Made Preparation for the...
... seized upon the city, but superior in strength of body and courage; on which account,
when he had been driven away from that Acrabattenetoparchy, which he...
Samaria. Sychem.
... For it begins at a town called Ginea, lying in the Great plain, and ends at the
Toparchy of the Acrabateni: the nature of it nothing differing from Judea," &c....
The Jews Make all Ready for the War; and Simon, the Son of Gioras...
... 2. But as for the Acrabbenetoparchy, Simon, the son of Gioras, got a great number
of those that were fond of innovations together, and betook himself to...
Cestius Sends Ambassadors to Nero. The People of Damascus Slay...
... parts of the country; but Joseph the son of Simon was sent as general to Jericho,
as was Manasseh to Perea, and John, the Esscue, to thetoparchy of Thamna...
A Description Op Galilee, Samaria, and Judea.
... of Samaria, it lies between Judea and Galilee; it begins at a village that is in
the great plain called Ginea, and ends at the Acrabbenetoparchy, and is...
The Death of Salome. The Cities which Herod and Philip Built....
... took upon them the administration of their own tetrarchies; for when Salome died,
she bequeathed to Julia, the wife of Augustus, both hertoparchy, and Jamriga...
Now Herod and Philip Built Several Cities in Honor of Caesar....
... successor in that government; under whom Salome, the sister of king Herod, died,
and left to Julia, [Caesar's wife,] Jamnia, all itstoparchy, and Phasaelis in...
Concerning Zamaris, the Babylonian Jew; Concerning the Plots Laid...
... a place for habitation, called Valatha, he sent for this man, with the multitude
that followed him, and promised to give him land in thetoparchy called Batanea...
Divers Matters.
... Samaritans. Of the eleven Toparchies, the second after Jerusalem was Toparchia
Gophnitica, in Pliny Zophanitica, theToparchy of Gophna....
Thesaurus
Toparchy... Judea was formerly divided into ten toparchies. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia.
TOPARCHY. to'-par-ki, top'-ar-ki (toparchia): the
...Top (880 Occurrences)
Topaz (7 Occurrences)
Timnath-serah (2 Occurrences)
... Josephus says that Joshua was buried at Thamna, a city of Ephraim (Ant., V, i, 29),
which probably corresponds to Thamna, the head of a Jewishtoparchy (BJ, III...
Timnathserah (2 Occurrences)
... Josephus says that Joshua was buried at Thamna, a city of Ephraim (Ant., V, i, 29),
which probably corresponds to Thamna, the head of a Jewishtoparchy (BJ, III...
Batanaea
... BATANAEA. bat-a-ne'-a: The name used in Greek times for BASHAN (which see), Josephus,
Life, II; Ant, XV, x, 1; XVII, ii, 1, "toparchy of Butanea."....
Arbatta
... Encyclopedia Biblica (sv) suggests "the Arabah, or Araboth of Jordan." Possibly
however we should look for it in thetoparchy of Akrabattis, to the Southeast...
Apollonius
... (5) Son of Gennaeus (2 Maccabees 12:2); as governor of atoparchy in Palestine under
Antiochus Eupator he proved a bitter enemy of the Jews. J. Hutchison....
Country
... It reached South as far as thetoparchy of Acrabatta (modern `Aqrabeh), while on
the border between Samaria and Judea lay the villages of Annath and Borceos...
Samaria (123 Occurrences)
... It reached South as far as thetoparchy of Acrabatta (modern `Aqrabeh), while on
the border between Samaria and Judea lay the villages of Annath and Borceos...
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