Athenobius
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [1]
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.
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [2]
( Ἀθηνόβιος ) , 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 ( 1 Maccabees 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).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [3]
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).
