Topical Encyclopedia Achior is a notable figure in the deuterocanonical Book of Judith, which is included in the Septuagint and the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christian Old Testament canons, but not in the Hebrew Bible or Protestant Old Testament. His account is set during the Assyrian campaign against the Israelites, led by the general Holofernes under the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar.Background and Role in the Book of Judith Achior is introduced as the leader of the Ammonites, a people often in conflict with Israel throughout the Old Testament. In the narrative of Judith, Achior is summoned by Holofernes to provide counsel regarding the Israelites, whom the Assyrian army is preparing to attack. Achior's response is significant for its recognition of the power and protection of the God of Israel. Testimony to Holofernes In Judith 5, Achior delivers a speech to Holofernes and the Assyrian commanders, recounting the history of the Israelites and emphasizing their unique relationship with God. He warns that as long as the Israelites remain faithful to their God, they cannot be defeated. Achior states, "Now therefore, my lord and governor, if there is any error in this people and they sin against their God, let us consider that this shall be their ruin, and let us go up, and we shall overcome them. But if there be no iniquity in their nation, let my lord now pass by, lest their Lord defend them, and their God be for them, and we become a reproach before all the world" (Judith 5:20-21). Reaction and Consequences Holofernes and his officers react with anger and disbelief to Achior's counsel, viewing it as an act of treachery. In response, Holofernes orders that Achior be handed over to the Israelites, intending to demonstrate their vulnerability and the futility of Achior's warning. Achior is bound and left near the town of Bethulia, where he is discovered by the Israelites. Conversion and Acceptance Upon being brought before the leaders of Bethulia, Achior recounts his experience and the words he spoke to Holofernes. The Israelites, recognizing the truth in his testimony and the providence of God in bringing him to them, welcome Achior into their community. After witnessing the miraculous deliverance of Bethulia through the bravery of Judith, Achior converts to the worship of the God of Israel. Judith 14:10 records, "When Achior had seen all that the God of Israel had done, he believed in God greatly, and circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined unto the house of Israel unto this day" . Significance Achior's account highlights themes of faith, divine providence, and the power of God to protect His people. His conversion serves as a testament to the truth of God's sovereignty and the fulfillment of His promises to Israel. Achior's inclusion in the narrative underscores the potential for outsiders to recognize and embrace the God of Israel, reflecting the broader biblical theme of God's concern for all nations. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia ACHIORa'-ki-or (Achior): General of the Ammonites, who spoke in behalf of Israel before Holofernes, the Assyrian general (Judith 5:5). Holofernes ordered him bound and delivered at Bethulia to the Israelites (Judith 6), who received him gladly and with honor. Afterward he became a proselyte, was circumcised, and joined to Israel (Judith 14). In Numbers 34:27 it is the Septuagint reading for Ahihud, and in the Hebrew would be 'achi'or, "brother of light." Library The Jews, Then, Having Returned, as we have Narrated Above... Writing v. But as up to that Time the Genealogies of the Hebrews ... Why, in the Account of Terah's Emigration, on his Forsaking the ... Here Beginneth the Story of Judith The Church History of Eusebius. Index of Subjects. The Alleged Discrepancy in the Gospels in Regard to the Genealogy ... Whether the Judicial Precepts Regarding Foreigners were Framed in ... The City of God. Index of Subjects. Thesaurus Achior... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ACHIOR. a'-ki-or (Achior): General of the Ammonites, who spoke in behalf of Israel before Holofernes ... /a/achior.htm - 6k Judith (1 Occurrence) Achipha Aching (1 Occurrence) Anem (1 Occurrence) Resources Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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