were often linked together in common usage.—Acts 19:21; Rom. 15:26; 1 Thess. 1:7, 8.

In the year 15 C.E., in response to complaints over the severity of taxation, Tiberius placed Achaia and Macedonia under imperial control, to be governed from the province of Moesia. This continued until 44 C.E. when Emperor Claudius restored these provinces to senatorial control, thereby causing a proconsul again to take up governing powers in Corinth. Due to ignorance of these facts, in the past some critics objected to the Bible’s reference to Gallio as the “proconsul of Achaia,” before whom Paul was brought. (Acts 18:12) However, the discovery of an inscription at Delphi made it evident that there was indeed a proconsul at Achaia named Gallio at the time described by historian Luke, the writer of Acts.—See GALLIO.

At Romans 15:26 the apostle Paul speaks of the generosity of the Christians in the province of Achaia in providing help for their needy brothers in Jerusalem. In Paul’s second and third missionary journeys a considerable part of his time was spent in Achaia, and he expressed strong love for the brothers of that region.—2 Cor. 11:10.

ACHAICUS

(A·chaʹi·cus) [belonging to Achaia].

One of the mature associates of the Corinthian congregation, who, together with Stephanas and Fortunatus, visited Paul while he was at Ephesus.—1 Cor. 16:17, 18.

ACHAN

(Aʹchan) (ACHAR, 1 Chron. 2:7) [trouble, troubler].

The son of Carmi of the household of Zabdi of the family of Zerah of the tribe of Judah. When the Israelites crossed the Jordan, Jehovah explicitly commanded that the firstfruits of the conquest, the city of Jericho, “must become a thing devoted to destruction; . . . it belongs to Jehovah.” Its silver and gold were to be given to the treasury of Jehovah. (Josh. 6:17, 19) Achan, however, upon finding a costly garment from Shinar and some $739 in the form of a fifty-shekel gold bar and 200 silver shekels, secretly buried them beneath his tent. (Josh. 7:21) Actually he had robbed God! Because of this violation of Jehovah’s explicit instructions, when the next city, Ai, was attacked Jehovah withheld his blessing, and Israel was put to flight. Who was guilty? No one confessed. All Israel was then put on trial. Tribe by tribe, then family by family of the tribe of Judah, and finally, man by man of the house of Zabdi, they passed before Jehovah until the troublemaker Achan “got to be picked.” (Josh. 7:4-18) Only then did he admit his sin. Execution quickly followed. Achan and his family and livestock were first stoned to death and then burned with fire, together with all his possessions, in the valley of Achor, also meaning “trouble.”—Josh. 7:19-26.

ACHAR

See ACHAN.

ACHBOR

(Achʹbor) [a springing mouse].

1. The father of Baal-hanan, who is listed as the seventh king of Edom.—Gen. 36:38, 39; 1 Chron. 1:49.

2. The son of Micaiah and a trusted official of King Josiah’s court. (2 Ki. 22:12) He is called “Abdon the son of Micah” at 2 Chronicles 34:20. Upon learning of Jehovah’s burning rage expressed in the ancient book of the law, only recently discovered, Josiah sent Achbor as one of a committee of five to the prophetess Huldah to learn what should be done. (2 Ki. 22:8-14) Achbor was the father of Elnathan, a prince of the court of King Jehoiakim, and very likely was the great-grandfather of King Jehoiachin.—Jer. 26:22; 36:12; 2 Ki. 24:8.

ACHIM

(Aʹchim) [Greek form of Hebrew Jachin or Jakim (“He will firmly establish”), contractions of Jehoiachin (“Yah(u) firmly establishes”)]. A royal descendant of David through Solomon and an ancestor of Joseph the foster father of Jesus.—Matt. 1:14.

ACHISH

(Aʹchish) [perhaps, anger].

A Philistine king of Gath who reigned during the time of David and Solomon. He was the son of Maoch or Maacah, and in the superscription of Psalm 34 is called Abimelech, perhaps a title similar to Pharaoh or Czar. (1 Sam. 27:2; 1 Ki. 2:39) Twice when David was in flight from Saul he found refuge in the domain Of King Achish. On the first occasion, when suspected of being an enemy, David feigned insanity, and Achish let him go as a harmless idiot. (1 Sam. 21:10-15; Psalms 34, 56, superscriptions) On the second visit David was accompanied by 600 warriors and their families, and so Achish assigned them to live in Ziklag to the S of Gath. During the year and four months that they were there Achish believed that David’s band was making raids on Judean towns whereas David was actually pillaging the Geshurites, Girzites and Amalekites. (1 Sam. 27:1-12) So successful was the deception that Achish actually made David his personal bodyguard when the Philistines were organizing an attack on King Saul, and only at the last moment upon the insistence of the other “axis lords” of the Philistines were David and his men sent back to Ziklag. (1 Sam. 28:2; 29:1-11) When David became king and warred against Gath, Achish apparently was not killed, but lived into Solomon’s reign.—1 Kings 2:39-41.

ACHOR

(Aʹchor) [ostracism; trouble].

A valley or low plain forming part of the NE boundary of the tribal territory of Judah. (Josh. 15:7) The valley’s name, meaning “trouble,” resulted from its being the place where Achan and his household were stoned to death. Achan, by his stealing and hiding some booty from the capture of Jericho, had brought trouble on the nation of Israel, including defeat at the first attack on Ai.—Josh. 7:5-26.

Some have identified the valley of Achor with the Wadi Qilt, a ravine-like torrent valley that passes near Jericho. However, the description of its position as given at Joshua 15:7 appears to place it more to the S, and the statement at Isaiah 65:10 would indicate a broader, more spacious area. In view of this it is tentatively identified with the “Baca” (el-Buqeʽah), a barren, low-lying plateau or basin, that stretches N and S across the Wadi Qumran near the northwestern corner of the Dead Sea. Archaeological investigation there has revealed sites of ancient towns or forts as well as systems of dams.

At Hosea 2:15 Jehovah recalls Israel’s youth at the time of the exodus and, in a prophecy of restoration from future captivity, he promises that the “low plain of Achor,” once a place of ostracism or trouble, will then become “as an entrance to hope.” And, although the area is one of wilderness, in a similar restoration prophecy God foretells that the low plain of Achor will become “a resting place for cattle.”—Isa. 65:10.

ACHSAH

(Achʹsah) [anklet, bangle].

The daughter of the Judean spy Caleb whom he offered in marriage as a prize to whoever captured the stronghold of Debir in Judah’s newly acquired territory. Caleb’s nephew Othniel (see OTHNIEL), who evidently became the first judge after Joshua (Judg. 3:9, 10), captured it and as a reward, married his cousin Achsah. When Achsah left for her new home, she requested and received from her father an additional choice gift, a section containing the Upper and Lower Gulloth. (Josh. 15:15-19; Judg. 1:12-15) Achsah may have been the mother of Hathath.—1 Chron. 4:13.

ACHSHAPH

(Achʹshaph) [sorcery or place of magic].

A royal city of Canaan whose king responded to the call of Jabin, king of Hazor, and joined the encampment of kings at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel. (Josh. 11:1, 5) He was killed in the battle that followed. (Josh. 12:7, 20) The city of Achshaph was later included in the territory assigned as an inheritance to the tribe of Asher.—Josh. 19:25.