SATRAPAS, or Satrapa. This is a Persian Word, which in its Original properly signifies an Admiral, or Commander of a Naval Armament, but afterwards it was generally given to Governors of Provinces, and to the principal Ministers of the Kings of Persia. We even find them a long time before the Kings of Persia, in the Satrapys of the Philistines, which were in being in the Times of Joshua and the Judges. ‘Tis true, that the Satrapys of the Philistines Judg. iii. 3. סרנים Seranim, Satrapæ.are called in Hebrew, Seranim; Plutarch. in Crasso. Jer. li. 27. שפסר Taphsar.from whence comes the Word Surenæ, which was also a Name of Dignity among the Persians. The General of the Army of the Parthians that killed Crassus, was called Surena. As for the Word Satrapas, with which we are now concerned, I find it in the Chaldee of Daniel1, in Ezra, and in Esther, under the Name of Achashdarpana, from whence the Greeks have formed Satrapa, by the Elision of some Letters both from the Beginning and End of the Word. This Term, in its Etymology, signifies a great Person that sees the Face of the King, or the Supporters of Majesty. See the Authors of the Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionaries, and the Commentators upon Dan. iii. 2. We find also in Jeremiah and in Nahum the Word Tapsar, which the Interpreters translate by Satrapas.
The Satrapæ, or Lords of the Philistines, were as so many petty Kings, who governed the five Satrapys with absolute Authority, that is, the five principal Cities of the Philistines. These People had sometimes Kings also in other Cities. Abimelech King of Gerar, for Example, and Achish King of Gath, were Philistines, but different from the Surenæ or Satrapæ of the five Satrapys, of which there is frequent mention made in the Book of Judges, and in the first Book of Kings. But the Persian Satrapæ were mere Governors of a Province, sent by the King, or Officers in his Armies. St. Jerome sometimes translates by Satrapæ2 the Hebrew Word Pachat, which signifies a General of an Army, or Governor of a Province; whence comes the Word Bacha, or Pacha, which is still a Word in use among the Turks to this Day. But the true Name of Satrapa is disguised under the Word Achashdarpana, which is read in Daniel, Ezra, and Esther, which are Books that were written during the Captivity, or soon afterwards.
Read this article in its place on the printed pages