Alabarcha

ALABARCHA. This term is not to be met with in the Text of Scripture; but Josephus makes use of it in several places¹ to signify the Chief of the Jews in Alexandria. Philo² calls this Magistrate Genarkes; and Josephus³ in some places Ethnarches. These two last terms signify the Prince or Chief of a Nation. But concerning the signification of Alabarcha, there are some disputes. There are some⁴ who believe, that this name was given in raillery to the principal Magistrate, or Head of the Jews at Alexandria, by the Gentiles of the same City, who hated and despised the Jews. Others⁵ derive Alabarcha from Alaba, which signifies ink to write with; accordingly, Alabarcha would signify properly the Chief Secretary, or Collector of the customs and duties upon Cattle carried out of the Country.

Fuller⁶ derives it from the Hebrew or Syriac Halaph and Arcin⁷, as if we should say, the Intendant, or the Sovereign’s Delegate: for in places where the Jews were numerous, they had one of the principal of their own Nation over them, or some other to whom they addressed themselves, particularly in all affairs relating to themselves, without any dependence on the President or Governour sent by the Sovereign to rule his other subjects. But this last etymology pleases me no better than the others which I have mentioned. It is certain that the dignity of Alabarch was common in Egypt, as we see in Juvenal⁸; and that the Emperors Valens, Gratian and Theodosius, speak of the Customs or Imposts called Alabarchia⁹ in Egypt. It is probable, that originally the word Alabarcha signified the person who had the custom of Salt, and that afterwards it was given in the way of contempt to the Head or Governour of the Jews at Alexandria. In this sense the etymology of the word Alabarcha will come from the Greek Hals, Halos, Salt, and Archon the Chief.

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