ACHIOCH. — Name of two biblical figures.
1. Supreme military commander of the Ammonites. When Holofernes, the Assyrian general, asked him for information about the people of Israel against whom he was marching, Achior spoke frankly, recounting their history (Judg. 5:5–25) and demonstrating that they were a people protected by a God who rendered them invincible when Israel remained faithful to Him. Holofernes, expecting quite the opposite from a military commander, accused Achior of treachery and handed him over to the Hebrews near Bethulia, which he was besieging, intending to kill him once the city was taken. The Hebrews, however, treated Achior well. When Judith showed him Holofernes’ head, Achior recognized the rout of the Assyrians and, after a momentary hesitation, worshipped the God of Israel. By exception to the prohibition in Deut. 23:3, he was admitted to circumcision (Judg. 5; 6; 13:27–31; 14:6).
2. Friend and kinsman of Tobias, who congratulated him on the benefits God had granted (Tob. 11:20–21, Vulgate). He belonged to the tribe of Naphtali among those deported by Shalmaneser to Nineveh. The Septuagint calls him ‘Ayyāzqōs and describes him as the chief cupbearer at the court of Sennacherib and Esarhaddon (cf. AHIKAR).