MALCHUS
(mal' kuhs) GREEK: MALCHOS
derived from a Semitic root for "king"
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The night Roman soldiers and temple police arrested Jesus, Peter cut off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest Caisphas's slave. The slave was most likely only an observer representing Caiaphas; the first-century A.D. Jewish historian Josephus says servants of the high priest were known to represent their master at unpleasant functions. Judging from Malchus's name, he may have been a Nabatean Arab slave from the deserts east or south of Judea. Inscriptions show Malchus was a common Nabatean name.
The arrest, which took place on the Mount of Olives, several hundred yards beyond the temple grounds, is recorded in all four Gospels. Only John names the victim of Peter's attack; and only Luke, traditionally held to be Paul's "beloved physician" (Col. 4:14), says that Jesus healed the slave's wound.
cf... E2 Dictionary of Biblical People
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