The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience.

Religion Dispatches is your independent, non-profit, award-winning source for the best writing on critical and timely issues at the intersection of religion, politics, and culture.

January 20, 2025 • Some religious leaders liken Donald Trump to the ancient Persian King Cyrus and the Ancient Israelite King Jehu. But those who teach biblical studies worry about such comparisons.