Topic
Sparta; Spartans
10 passages cited, from 1 classic reference work.
These works date from 1915 and are in the public domain. They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently. The verses are shown in the King James Version, the wording these works were written against.
The verses
The passages the works cite, those cited by more of them first.
- 1 Maccabees 12:2ISBE
He sent letters also to the Lacedemonians, and to other places, for the same purpose.
- 1 Maccabees 12:5ISBE
And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Lacedemonians:
- 1 Maccabees 12:6ISBE
Jonathan the high priest, and the elders of the nation, and the priests, and the other of the Jews, unto the Lacedemonians their brethren send greeting:
- 1 Maccabees 12:10ISBE
Have nevertheless attempted to send unto you for the renewing of brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers unto you altogether: for there is a long time passed since ye sent unto us.
- 1 Maccabees 12:19ISBE
And this is the copy of the letters which Oniares sent.
- 1 Maccabees 12:21ISBE
It is found in writing, that the Lacedemonians and Jews are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham:
- 1 Maccabees 14:16ISBE
Now when it was heard at Rome, and as far as Sparta, that Jonathan was dead, they were very sorry.
- 1 Maccabees 14:20–23ISBE
And this is the copy of the letters that the Lacedemonians sent; The rulers of the Lacedemonians, with the city, unto Simon the high priest, and the elders, and priests, and residue of the people of the Jews, our brethren, send greeting: The ambassadors…
- 1 Maccabees 15:23ISBE
And to all the countries and to Sampsames, and the Lacedemonians, and to Delus, and Myndus, and Sicyon, and Caria, and Samos, and Pamphylia, and Lycia, and Halicarnassus, and Rhodus, and Aradus, and Cos, and Side, and Aradus, and Gortyna, and Cnidus, and…
- 2 Maccabees 5:9ISBE
Thus he that had driven many out of their country perished in a strange land, retiring to the Lacedemonians, and thinking there to find succour by reason of his kindred:
In the reference works
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · 14 references
spar'-ta, spar'-tanz (Sparte (1 Macc 14:16), Spartiatai; Lacedaemonians (the King James Version 1 Macc 12:2,5,6,10,21; 14:20-23; 15:23; in 2 Macc 5:9, Greek Lakedaimonioi)): The passages in 1 Macc relate to a correspondence initiated by Jonathan, the priest, during the Maccabean revolt, and continued after his death with his brother Simon, between the Jews and the Lacedaemonians or Spartans, with a view to a friendly alliance. The proposals, curiously based on a claim to kindredship, were favorably received by the Lacedaemonians. See the letters (1 Macc 12:5 ff,19 ff; 14:16 ff). The claim to blood-relationship (compare 1 Macc 12:21; 2 Macc 5:9) is of course absurd, but there is no good reason to doubt the genuineness of the transaction described.
See ARIUS; ASMONEANS; LACEDAEMONIANS; MACCABAEUS, etc.
James Orr
Texts: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915), from the CrossWire SWORD modules (public domain). Verse references were parsed from the works' own markup and checked against the KJV verse list.