Mapping Biblical Characters to Hellenistic Figures

For the sake of brevity and ease of use, I have elected to link to Wikipedia.  I will update entries in the Biblical Sources column to include biblical citations in all cases.


Biblical Character
Historical Figure
Biblical Sources
Historical Sources
Saul
Alexander the Great
The Elders of Israel
Isocrates (representing Panhellenists, generally)
David
Ptolemy I Soter
Abner
Antipater
Ish-bosheth
Perdiccas
Rechab
Peithon or Antigenes
Baanah
Antigenes or Peithon
Solomon
Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Bathsheba
Berenice I of Egypt
Uriah
Phillip
Wikipedia (poss.)
Abiathar
Demetrius of Phalerum
1 Sam. 22:20-23; 23:6
1 Kings 2:26, 4:4, 7, 19, 25
Adonijah
Ptolemy Ceraunus
Wikipedia
Daughter of Pharaoh
Arsinoe II


2 comments:

  1. What about Aristotle? With students like Alexander and Ptolemy I, surely Aristotle played an integral part in shaping their world outlook and therefore would have a biblical character?

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    Replies
    1. I was not attempting to identify all parallels with historical Hellenistic figures, just the ones whose stories are most clearly tracked in the Old Testament. I have identified biblical characters who correspond to both Aristotle and Plato (and Plato's nephew), but I have not listed them here (yet).

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