The Book of Joel is one of the most enigmatic books in the Bible. The Bible mentions neither Joel nor his father anywhere except for Peter’s quote from Joel 2:28-32. Like most Minor Prophets, he addressed themes like judgment, repentance, and restoration. He repeatedly referred to the day of the Lord in the context […]

Following Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BCE, his former generals and governors fought for control of his empire. Almost two decades later, the Antigonid family, headed by Antigonus Monophthalmus and his son Demetrius, had just declared themselves kings and looked best placed to come out on top. When they turned their attention to […]

The Phoenicians, renowned for their trading and maritime skills, originated in what’s modern Lebanon. They called themselves Canaanites, related to similar peoples in the region. The term Phoenician derived from the Greek word “phoinix” meaning purple, referencing the famous purple dye produced in Tyre.      The Phoenician era spanned some 2,500 years, encompassing […]

Long before the arrival of British traders, explorers, and surveyors, the First Nations of the Canadian Plains developed rich and complex cultures, deeply connected to the rhythms of their lands and the seasonal migrations of bison herds. The Blackfoot, for instance, were skilled hunters who used to drive bison over cliffs (the practice is […]