Akrothinion

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.