PARTHIANS, are the same as the ancient Persians. They were called Persians in the Time of the Prophets, and Parthians in our Saviour’s Time. The Name Persians in Hebrew Paraschim, signifies Horsemen. The proper Name of the Persian Nation is Ælam. Probably they had the Name Peraschism given them, because of their great Inclination to Horsemanship, which continues to this Day. Neither Moses, nor any other of the sacred Writers, make any Ezek. xxvii. 10.mention of the Persians till towards the Time of Cyrus. Ezekiel puts the Persians among the Troops of the King of Tyre. He Ezek. xxxviii. 5. Acts ii. 9 Judith xvi. 10.also put some of them in the Army of Gog Prince of Magog. Judith said, that the Persians admired her Courage. Daniel often speaks of the King of the Persians, who was to destroy the Chaldean Monarchy. From the Time of Cyrus the Persian Name is known in Scripture. The Name of Parthians is only read in the Acts of the Apostles, where they appear as if distinct from the Elamites, tho’ they make originally but one People. See the Article ÆLAM before Elymais was the Capital of Ælam, and Susa the Capital of the Persians. The first Epistle of St. John in several Manuscripts has the Title of the Epistle to the Parthians.
Library / Calmet's Dictionary of the Holy Bible, Complete and Unabridged
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Parthians
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Augustin Calmet, O.S.B., “Parthians,” in Calmet's Dictionary of the Holy Bible, Complete and Unabridged, English translation, Mind of the Church, https://mindofthechurch.com/works/calmet-dictionary/p/parthians/.