Parthia
The Parthian Empire also known as the Arsacid Empire was a major Iranian political and cultural power in ancient Iran from 247 BC to 224 AD.
In Matthew 3:4 John's "raiment of camel's hair" was likely made of Bactrian camel's hair which was common in Parthia, the hereditary enemy of Rome. And "a leathern girdle about his loins" also suggests Parthian priest[1] wearing a "Hemyan" belt. [2]
Also the idea of "his meat was locusts and wild honey" is not about eating bugs but Carob.[3]
The wise men of Matthew 2 seems to be the Megistanes[4] who saw Jesus as the descendent of Phares, King David, and Matthan the technical heir to the Parthian throne.
Soba was said to be the daughter of Matthan and mother of Elisabeth, who was the mother of John the Baptist. This also made Joseph "Mary’s first cousin, once removed, as they shared the same grandfather, Matthan" See (Matthew 1:15)
This made them descended from both Judean and Parthian royalty." See Jesus
- ↑ The Parthian Empire stretched from central Asia to Mesopotamia, and from the Caucasus to the Persian Gulf, and kept Roman expansionism in check for roughly 400 Years.
- ↑ "Geo Widengren distinguishes between the Parthian kamar, a sword or tunic belt, and the hemyān, or sacred girdle worn by priests (Widengren, p. 254)." “BELTS,” Encyclopaedia Iranica, IV/2, pp. 130-136.
- ↑ The eastern Mediterranean region has a tree, cultivated from the pea family (Fabaceae), called Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) produces an edible pod identified as a "locust" bean or "St. John's bread". So carob was not a bug and the honey may be what was called "date honey".
- ↑ Matthew 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great <3173> joy. Matthew 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great <3173> light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great <3173> in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great <3173> King.