spar´ta , spar´tanz ( Σπάρτη , Spártē ( 1 Maccabees 14:16 ), Σπαρτιᾶται , Spartiátai ; Lacedaemonians (the King James Version 1 Maccabees 12:2,5 , 6,10 , 21; 14:20-23; 15:23; in 2 Maccabees 5:9 , Greek Lakedaimónioi )): The passages in 1 Macc relate to a correspondence initiated by Jonathan, the priest, during the Maccabean revolt, and continued after his death with his brother Simon, between the Jews and the Lacedaemonians or Spartans, with a view to a friendly alliance. The proposals, curiously based on a claim to kindredship, were favorably received by the Lacedaemonians. See the letters ( 1 Maccabees 12:5 ff, 19 ff; 14:16 ff). The claim to blood-relationship (compare 1 Maccabees 12:21; 2 Maccabees 5:9 ) is of course absurd, but there is no good reason to doubt the genuineness of the transaction described. See ARIUS; ASMONEANS; LACEDAEMONIANS; MACCABEANS , etc.
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) was edited by James Orr, John Nuelsen, Edgar Mullins, Morris Evans, and Melvin Grove Kyle and was published complete in 1939. This web site includes the complete text.
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