Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Practised by the Ishmaelites (Gen. 16:12), the Chaldeans and Sabeans (Job 1:15, 17), and the men of Shechem (Judg. 9:25. See also 1 Sam. 27:6-10; 30; Hos. 4:2; 6:9). Robbers infested Judea in our Lord’s time (Luke 10:30; John 18:40; Acts 5:36, 37; 21:38; 2 Cor. 11:26). The words of the Authorized Version, “counted it not robbery to be equal,” etc. (Phil. 2:6, 7), are better rendered in the Revised Version, “counted it not a prize to be on
an equality,” etc., i.e., “did not look upon equality with God as a prize which must not slip from his grasp” = “did not cling with avidity to the prerogatives of his divine majesty; did not ambitiously display his equality with God.” “Robbers of churches” should be rendered, as in the Revised Version, “of temples.” In the temple at Ephesus there was a great treasure-chamber, and as all that was laid up there was under the
guardianship of the goddess Diana, to steal from such a place would be sacrilege (Acts 19:37).
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
Robbery has ever been one of the principal employments of the nomad tribes of the East. From the time of Ishmael to the present day the Bedouin has been a “wild man,” and a robber by trade. (Genesis 16:12) The Mosaic law on the subject of theft is contained in (Exodus 2:2) There seems no reason to suppose that the law underwent any alteration in Solomon’s time. Man-stealing was punishable with death. (Exodus 21:16; 24:7) Invasion of right
in land was strictly forbidden. (27:17; Isaiah 5:8; Micah 2:2)
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
ROB'BERY is one of the chronic troubles in Palestine, where the Bedouin of to-day are robbers. The O.T. reveals a similar state of things during the period of the Judges, when might was right. Some of the inhabitants were "liers in wait," who robbed "all that came along that way." Jud 9:25. Hosea and Micah, by a few touches, paint a sad picture of pillage and robbery in the northern kingdom in their day. The Romans did not improve matters, but
rather made them worse; and incidental notices in the N.T. prove the insecurity of person and property in Palestine in the first century. Luke 10:30; John 18:40; Acts 5:36-37; Josh 21:38; 2 Cor 11:26. The "thieves" between whom our Lord was crucified were highway robbers. Matt 27:38. One of the usual camping-places, a day's journey north of Jerusalem, is called the "Fountain of the Robbers."