Aretas
was the King of the Nabataeans from roughly 9 BC to AD 40.
His full title, as given in the inscriptions, was "Aretas,
King of the Nabataeans, Friend of his People." Being the most
powerful neighbour of Judea, he frequently took part in the
state affairs of that country, and was influential in shaping
the destiny of its rulers. While on not part...
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In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city
of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:...
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ar'-e-tas (Aretas): The name is a common one among Arabian
princes and signifies "virtuous or pleasing."
1. 2 Macc 5:8:
It is mentioned several times in Biblical literature and in
Josephus. Here it refers to an Arabian king, who was a
contemporary of Antiochus Epiphanes (circa 170 BC), before
whom Jason the high priest was accused.
2. Obodas:
A...
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(graver).
1. A contemporary of Antiochus Epiphanes, B.C. 170,
and Jason. 2 Macc. 5:8.
2. The Aretas alluded to by St. Paul 2Co 11:32 was
father-in-law of Herod Antipas....
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the father-in-law of Herod Antipas, and king of Arabia
Petraea.
His daughter returned to him on the occasion of her
husband's
entering into an adulterous alliance with Herodias,
the wife of
Herod-Philip, his half-brother (Luke 3:19, 20; Mark
6:17; Matt.
14:3). This led to a war between Aretas and Herod
Antipas.
Herod's army was wholly des...
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A common name of many Arabian kings. 2 Corinthians 11:32;
"in Damascus the governor ethnarch) under Aretas the king
kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to
apprehend me; and through a window in a basket was I let
down by the wall, and escaped his hands." The ethnarch did
it to please the Jews, who (Acts 9:24) "watched the ...
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