Akrothinion (Α᾿κροθίνιον, from the top of the heap). This Greek word (usually in the plur. ἀκροθίνια), which occurs in Heb 7:4, means the best of the (fruits of the earth, hence) spoils (Smith's Dict. of Class. Ant. s.v. Acrothinion). The Greeks, after a battle, were accustomed to collect the spoils into a heap, from which an offering was first made to the gods; this was the ἀκροθίνιον (Xenoph. Cyrop. 7, 5, 35; Herodot. 8:121, 122; Pind. Nem. 7, 58). In the first cited case, Cyrus, after the taking of Babylon, calls the magi, and commands them to choose the ἀκροθίνια of certain portions of the ground for sacred purposes (see Stephens, Thes. Graec. p. 1560). SEE SPOIL.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More