ATHENOBIUS ăth’ ə nō’ bĭ əs (̓Αθηνόβιος). A “friend” of Antiochus VII Sidetes, king of Syria, who was sent to Jerusalem by the king to remonstrate with Simon Maccabeus for the occupation of Joppa and Gazara and the citadel of Jerusalem. He demanded that all the places taken should be given up, or that he pay 1,000 talents in silver. Simon refused to pay more than 100 talents, and Athenobius was obliged to return to Antiochus without achieveing his purpose (1 Macc 15:28-36).