February 2021 – Mars Hill Press

The End of Hannibal

After the Second Punic War, the Carthaginian general Hannibal continued to make war on Rome, as a general for hire by other kings. He was renowned even in his own day as one of the greatest generals that had ever lived. In his final military engagement, as narrated by Justin, he fought at sea onContinue reading “The End of Hannibal”

Love Between Jesus and Peter

I recently received the latest issue of the Bulletin for Biblical Research, and an interesting article, really quite well done, treats the familiar issue arising from John 21:15–17 (“Peter, do you love me”), as to why Jesus uses one Greek word for love (related to agape) while Peter answers with another Greek word for loveContinue reading “Love Between Jesus and Peter”

Marriage in India, according to Diodorus Siculus

This is an interesting passage from the first-century BC Greek writer Diodorus Siculus, both for the ideas he is promoting in regard to India and for the assumptions he brings to a discussion of marriage. On the practice of burning widows, see further Wikipedia. It is an ancient custom among the Indians that the menContinue reading “Marriage in India, according to Diodorus Siculus”

Harpalus, An Unfaithful Servant

Harpalus was a courtier of Alexander the Great, whose story is told in various ancient authors. Here is the account in the first-century BC historian Diodorus Siculus. Harpalus had been given the custody of the treasury in Babylon and of the revenues which accrued to it, but as soon as the king had carried hisContinue reading “Harpalus, An Unfaithful Servant”

The Sassanid Empire

There were three Persian Empires before the rise of Islam. The Achaemenid Empire, 550–330 BC. This is the one Bible students often think of as the Persian Empire. This is the one founded by Cyrus the Great and that was eventually destroyed by Alexander. The Parthian Empire (or Arsacid Empire), 247 BC – AD 245.Continue reading “The Sassanid Empire”