Steven Collins
May 9, 2008
The link below details ongoing archaeological efforts at an ancient Parthian fortress site, and I’m bringing this item to the attention of readers of this blog. The discussion of this fortress is especially noteworthy as its former ruler was a Parthian vassal king who fought the Sassanian Persians when the Parthian Empire was falling in the 3rd century AD.
One can see that this fortress, called Yazdegerd, was located on a strategic mountain pinnacle which would have been ideal for monitoring trade caravans, observing enemy columns, etc. The article mentions that there are “…gaps in our understanding of Iran’s history during the Arsacid dynastic reign” (which lasted from approximately 250 BC to 227 AD). Is that ever an understatement! If the true origin of the Parthians were known it would revolutionize the field of history, and reveal God’s very active hand in guiding world affairs. When the ten tribes went into exile, Hosea 1:10 prophesied that the ten tribes would become so numerous after their exile that their numbers wouldn’t be countable. Amazingly, although the Bible states one must look for the ten tribes of Israel among the large nations after their exile, a false belief developed over the centuries that the ten tribes had died out. The exact opposite was true.
Josephus confirmed that the ten tribes were an innumerable multitude in Asia beyond the Euphrates River during his lifetime in the 1st century AD (Antiquities, XI, V, 2). That Josephus was linking the ten tribes to the Parthians is clear from his reference that the ten tribes were not subject to the Romans and were “beyond Euphrates.” This is a “smoking gun” identification as the Euphrates River was the longstanding border between the Roman and Parthian Empires when Josephus penned those words. The strong Semitic content of the Parthian language and the Israelite names of some of its cities (Parthian cities Samariane, Gaza, Asaak were clearly named after Samaria, Gaza and Isaac) confirm the Parthians were the ten tribes of Israel. The exaltation of the ten tribes over their former captors (the Assyrians, Babylonians and Achaemenid Persians) was prophesied to occur in Isaiah 14:2, and this prophecy was fulfilled in the Parthian dominance over these other nations. Acts 2:9 confirms the Parthians had a strong community of interest with Jerusalem in the 1st century AD which is what one would expect of members of the ten tribes. The full evidence of the Israelite origin of the Parthians is available in my book, Parthia: The Forgotten Ancient Superpower.
The link below identifies the Parthian vassal king of the fortress of Yazdegerd as Haftan Bokht, who resisted the early Sassanian leader, Ardashir. His efforts were futile though as the Parthians were driven out of Central Asia and had to flee toward the Scythian Black Sea region and Europe for refuge. As the Parthians fled toward Europe through the Caucasus Mountain passes, they were called “Caucasians” ever afterward. In Asia some Parthians were known by tribal names such as Germanii/Kermans, Saka and Jats. As their massive tribes began migrating into Europe soon after the fall of Parthia, these names were scarcely changed at all as the Romans called them Germans, Saxons and Jutes. The Parthians also had a feudal system of government in their Parthian empire, which they later rebuilt in Medieval Europe after their migrations were finished. If the Israelite/Parthian origin of many modern European/Caucasian nations were known, this awareness would “turn the world upside down” in terms of geopolitical and religious perspectives. Someday the world will know this fact. Truth can only be hidden for so long. Luke 12:2-3 foretells that the secret things will eventually be made known to all.
http://www.cais-soas.com/News/2008/May2008/08-05-discovery.htm
