Robbery
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament [1]
When St. Paul enumerates in his Second Letter to the Corinthian Church the dangers through which he has passed in the prosecution of his missionary labours he includes κινδύνοις λῃστῶν, ‘perils of robbers’ ( 2 Corinthians 11:26). There can be little doubt that, while this peril may have existed on many of the routes in Asia Minor, it existed in a special degree on that through the Taurus mountains by which St. Paul reached Antioch. However valuable for health reasons the journey to the higher land may have been, it involved positive dangers, ‘perils of rivers’ not less than ‘perils of robbers.’ While the Roman authorities had set themselves the task of suppressing brigandage, and visited upon brigands the stern punishment of crucifixion, it was obviously impossible to make that suppression complete, especially in mountainous or relatively obscure districts. Augustus discovered how hopeless was the task of rooting out the brigands of the Pisidian mountains. Travellers who could afford it usually adopted the wise precaution of having an escort.
Epigraphic study, associated chiefly with the names of Sterrett and Ramsay, has served to give interesting evidence of the insecurity which prevailed amid the Taurus heights. Patrokles and Douda, for example, set up an epitaph in memory of their son Sousou, a policeman who was slain by robbers, while there is evidence also for the existence of an official-the stationarius-who had to lend assistance in the capture of runaway slaves, a class from which the ranks of the mountain robbers might be must easily recruited.
Emphatic statements respecting the prevalence of robbers during the stormy period preceding the fall of Jerusalem, and an account of the measures adopted by Felix in consequence, may be found in Josephus-‘as to the number of the robbers he caused to be crucified, and of those who were caught among them, and whom he brought to punishment, they were a multitude not to be enumerated’ (Bellum Judaicum (Josephus)II. xiii. 2).
Literature.-C. A. J. Skeel, Travel in the First Century after Christ, Cambridge, 1901; J. R. S. Sterrett, Epigraphic Journey in Asia Minor, Boston, 1888; W. M. Ramsay, The Church in the Roman Empire, London, 1893, p. 23 f. article‘Roads and Travel (in NT)’ in Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols)v.
R. Strong.
Holman Bible Dictionary [2]
Exodus 20:15 Deuteronomy 5:19 Genesis 31:31 Leviticus 19:13 Deuteronomy 24:14-15 Malachi 3:5 John 10:1 Exodus 22:1 22:4 22:7 22:9 Leviticus 6:1-7 Numbers 5:5-8 Exodus 22:3
During the New Testament period, robbery was the jurisdiction of Roman law. Captured robbers, on occasion, were crucified ( Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27 ). Robbery could be political. Palestine contained various groups called Zealots, famous for zeal in Judaism and opposition to Rome. The more militant groups, such as the Sicarii, resorted to murder and robbery.
First-century robbers frequently operated —together in bands, attacking travelers ( Luke 10:30 ). The surprise of such an attack is analogous to the suddeness of Christ's return ( Revelation 3:3 ). Robbery threatens material possessions; therefore, Jesus commanded faith in spiritual things ( Matthew 6:19-20 ).
LeBron Matthews
Fausset's Bible Dictionary [3]
Esteemed by the Ishmaelites as creditable ( Genesis 16:12). Predatory incursions were frequent on the part of the Chaldaeans and Sabeans ( Job 1:15; Job 1:17). The "liers in wait" of the men of Shechem are instances also, "robbing all that came along that way" ( Judges 9:25). Also David plundering the Amalekites, etc. ( 1 Samuel 27:6-10); they made reprisals (1 Samuel 30). In Israel's disorganized state in the northern kingdom this evil was very prevalent ( Hosea 4:2; Hosea 6:9; Micah 2:8). Owing to the corrupt administration of Roman governors, and the facility of collecting and hiding banditti in the natural caves of Palestine, robbers infested Judaea much in our Lord's time and the age following ( Luke 10:30; John 18:40; Acts 5:36-37; Acts 21:38; 2 Corinthians 11:26). (On The Punishment Of Robbery, See Exodus 22.) (For "Thieves" Translated "Robbers", See Matthew 27:38.)
Easton's Bible Dictionary [4]
Genesis 16:12 Job 1:15,17 Judges 9:25 1 Samuel 27:6-10 30 Hosea 4:2 6:9 Luke 10:30 John 18:40 Acts 5:36,37 21:38 2 11:26 Philippians 2:6,7
"Robbers of churches" should be rendered, as in the Revised Version, "of temples." In the temple at Ephesus there was a great treasure-chamber, and as all that was laid up there was under the guardianship of the goddess Diana, to steal from such a place would be sacrilege ( Acts 19:37 ).
Smith's Bible Dictionary [5]
Robbery. Robbery has ever been one of the principal employments of the nomad tribes of the East. From the time of Ishmael to the present day, the Bedouin has been a "wild man," and a robber by trade. Genesis 16:12. The Mosaic law on the subject of theft is contained in Exodus 2:2. There seems no reason to suppose that the law underwent any alteration in Solomon's time. Man-stealing was punishable with death. Exodus 21:16; Exodus 24:7. Invasion of right in land was strictly forbidden. Deuteronomy 27:17; Isaiah 5:8; Micah 2:2.
King James Dictionary [6]
ROB'BERY, n.
1. In law, the forcible and felonious taking from the person of another any money or goods, putting him in fear, that is, by violence or by menaces of death or personal injury. Robbery differs from theft, as it is a violent felonious taking from the person or presence of another whereas theft is a felonious taking of goods privately from the person, dwelling, &c. of another. These words should not be confounded. 2. A plundering a pillaging a taking away by violence, wrong or oppression.
Webster's Dictionary [7]
(1): ( n.) The crime of robbing. See Rob, v. t., 2.
(2): ( n.) The act or practice of robbing; theft.
