Bible Dictionary: Seleucus

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Smith's Bible Dictionary

Seleucus

the name of five kings of the Greek dominion of Syria who are hence called Seleucidae . Only one--the fourth --is mentioned in the Apocrypha.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

SELEUCUS

se-lu'-kus (Seleukos):

(1) Seleucus I (Nicator, "The Conqueror"), the founder of the Seleucids or House of Seleucus, was an officer in the grand and thoroughly equipped army, which was perhaps the most important part of the inheritance that came to Alexander the Great from his father, Philip of Macedon. He took part in Alexander's Asiatic conquests, and on the division of these on Alexander's death he obtained the satrapy of Babylonia. By later conquests and under the name of king, which he assumed in the year 306, he became ruler of Syria and the greater part of Asia Minor. His rule extended from 312 to 280 B.C., the year of his death; at least the Seleucid era which seems to be referred to in 1 Maccabees 1:16 is reckoned from Seleucus I, 312 B.C. to 65 B.C., when Pompey reduced the kingdom of Syria to a Roman province. He followed generally the policy of Alexander in spreading Greek civilization. He founded Antioch and its port Seleucia, and is said by Josephus (Ant., XII, iii, 1) to have conferred civic privileges upon the Jews. The reference in Daniel 11:5 is usually understood to be to this ruler.

(2) Seleucus II (Callinicus, "The Gloriously Triumphant"), who reigned from 246 to 226 B.C., was the son of Antiochus Soter and is "the king of the north" in Daniel 11:7-9, who was expelled from his kingdom by Ptolemy Euergetes.

(3) Seleucus III (Ceraunus, "Thunderbolt"), son of Seleucus II, was assassinated in a campaign which he undertook into Asia Minor. He had a short reign of rather more than 2 years (226-223 B.C.) and is referred to in Daniel 11:10.

(4) Seleucus IV (Philopator, "Fond of his Father") was the son and successor of Antiochus the Great and reigned from 187 to 175 B.C. He is called "King of Asia" (2 Maccabees 3:3), a title claimed by the Seleucids even after their serious losses in Asia Minor (see 1 Maccabees 8:6; 11:13; 12:39; 13:32). He was present at the decisive battle of Magnesia (190 B.C.). He was murdered by HELIODORUS (which see), one of his own courtiers whom he had sent to plunder the Temple (2 Maccabees 3:1-40; Daniel 11:20).

For the connection of the above-named Seleucids with the "ten horns" of Daniel 7:24, the commentators must be consulted.

Seleucus V (125-124 B.C.) and Seleucus VI (95-93 B.C.) have no connection with the sacred narrative.

J. Hutchison

Greek

4581. Seleukeia -- Seleucia, a city of Syria
... Word Origin from Seleukos (Seleucus, a Syrian king) Definition Seleucia,
a city of Syria NASB Word Usage Seleucia (1). Seleucia. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4581.htm - 6k

Library

For, First of All, under King Seleucus, the Son of Antiochus the ...
... Book II. Chapter XVIII. For, first of all, under king Seleucus, the son
of Antiochus the great� For, first of all, under king ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xviii for first of.htm

From the Iambics of St. Amphilochius the Bishop to Seleucus, on ...
... VIII. From the Iambics of St. Amphilochius the Bishop to Seleucus, on the Same Subject. ...
Amphilochius the Bishop to Seleucus, on the Same Subject. [603] ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/viii from the iambics of.htm

But that the Order of the Dates May be Correctly Preserved...
... the king. [346] Seleucus, after the lapse of nine years, was himself styled
king in Syria, and reigned thirty-two years. After him ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xix but that the.htm

How Alexander, Upon the League of Mutual Defense which Cleopatra ...
... Rebelled Against Him. Also Concerning Antiochus Grypus, Seleucus Antiochus
Cyziceius, and Antiochus Pius, and Others. 1. When Cleopatra ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 how alexander upon.htm

The Syrian Persecution.
... 187. His son, Seleucus, called by. Daniel "a raiser of taxes," was very
poor in consequence of the tribute, and therefore greedy. ...
/.../yonge/the chosen people/lesson xvii the syrian persecution.htm

Appendix iv. An Abstract of Jewish History from the Reign of ...
... object of contention between the rulers of Egypt and Syria, Palestine ultimately
passed from Egyptian to Syrian domination during the reign of Seleucus IV. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix iv an abstract of.htm

How the Kings of Asia Honored the Nation of the Jews and Made them ...
... 1. The Jews also obtained honors from the kings of Asia when they became their
auxiliaries; for Seleucus Nicator made them citizens in those cities which he ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 3 how the kings.htm

It is Time to Describe the Great and Celebrated Spectacle of ...
... Such was the contest of Porphyry. 20. His death was reported to Pamphilus by a
messenger, Seleucus. He was one of the confessors from the army. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pamphilius/church history/chapter xi it is time.htm

The Greek Kings of Egypt.
... uninhabitable. Both these places were named after the Greek Kings of Syria,
who were by turns called Seleucus and Antiochus. It ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xvi the greek kings.htm

The Prophecies
... son of Lagos, Egypt), "shall be strong; but one of his princes shall be strong above
him, and his dominion shall be a great dominion," (Seleucus, King of Syria ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section xi the prophecies.htm

Thesaurus

Seleucus
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia SELEUCUS. se-lu'-kus (Seleukos): (1) Seleucus
I (Nicator, "The Conqueror"), the founder of the Seleucids ...
/s/seleucus.htm - 8k

Antiochus
... He was succeeded (BC 187) by his son, Seleucus Philopater, spoken of by Daniel
(11:20) as "a raiser of taxes", in the Revised Version, "one that shall cause an ...
/a/antiochus.htm - 17k

Onias
... (2) Onias III, son of Simon II (Josephus, Ant, XII, iv, 10), whom he succeeded,
and a contemporary of Seleucus IV and Antiochus Epiphanes (2 Maccabees 3:1; 4:7 ...
/o/onias.htm - 10k

Apollonius
... persons who bore this name (1) Son of Thrasaeus (2 Maccabees 3:5) who was governor
of Coele-Syria (Palestine and Phoenicia) under Seleucus Philopator, when ...
/a/apollonius.htm - 8k

Pisidia (2 Occurrences)
... 1. History: (1) Antioch of Pisidia was so called to distinguish it from the many
other cities of the same name founded by Seleucus Nicator (301-280 BC) and ...
/p/pisidia.htm - 21k

Antioch (21 Occurrences)
... an'-ti-ok, (Antiocheia). (2) Antioch in Syria.-In 301 BC, shortly after the battle
of Ipsus, which made him master of Syria, Seleucus Nicator rounded the city ...
/a/antioch.htm - 27k

Syria (73 Occurrences)
... an'-ti-ok, (Antiocheia). (2) Antioch in Syria.-In 301 BC, shortly after the battle
of Ipsus, which made him master of Syria, Seleucus Nicator rounded the city ...
/s/syria.htm - 60k

Heliodorus
... he-li-o-do'-rus (Heliodoros): Treasurer of the Syrian king Seleucus IV, Philopator
(187-175 BC), the immediate predecessor of Antiochus Epiphanes who carried ...
/h/heliodorus.htm - 8k

Maccabaeus
... in the year 323 BC, Palestine became a sort of buffer state between Egypt under
the Ptolemies on the South, and Syria, under the house of Seleucus, the last ...
/m/maccabaeus.htm - 17k

Epiphanes
... (Epiphanes, e-pif'-a-naz, "Illustrious"): Son of Antiochus III who became king
after his brother, Seleucus IV, had been murdered by Heliodorus. ...
/e/epiphanes.htm - 8k

Subtopics

Related Terms

Pisidia (2 Occurrences)

Antioch (21 Occurrences)

Syria (73 Occurrences)

Heliodorus

Maccabaeus