ATHENOBIUS (1Ma_15:28-35).A friend of Antiochus VII. Sidetes. He was sent to Jerusalem to remonstrate with Simon Maccabæus for the occupation of Joppa, Gazara, the citadel of Jerusalem, and certain places outside Judæa. Simon refused the terms proposed, and Athenobius was obliged to return in indignation to the king.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909
ath-e-nō?bi-us Ἀθηνόβιος, Athēnóbios: A ?friend? of Antiochus VII (Sidetes), who was sent to Jerusalem by the king to protest against the occupation of Joppa and Gazara, and the citadel Jerusalem. A demand was made on Simon Maccabeus to give up all the places he had taken or pay 1,000 talents in silver. Simon declined to pay more than 100 talents, and Athenobius returned to Antiochus from his fruitless mission (1 Macc 15:28-36).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.
Athenobius
(Α᾿θηνόβιος), a friend of the Syrian king Antiochus (VII) Sidetes, sent by him as a special ambassador to Simon, the Jewish high-priest. to demand possession of the chief fortresses of Palestine; which being refused, the envoy, although greatly impressed with what he saw of the splendor of Jerusalem, yet returned enraged to his inaster (1Ma_15:28-36). Josephus, however, gives a somewhat different account of the negotiation (Ant. 13, 7, 2; War, 1, 2, 2), and does not name Athenobius. SEE ANTIOCHUS.
CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
press 1895.