I am a Roman citizen, and I am better than the Jews. Of course, you would expect me to say that, but it is not I who said it, but a popular Jew who attracted many crowds . He said, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” What is even more astonishing is that I am a member of the finest war machine on the earth. I serve at Capernaum to keep order among the Jews and to serve as a frontier defense against the Arabs. Who am I?

I am shaped like an egg, being a very fat man, but it would be foolish to call me that to my face. In the same way it would be imprudent to make jokes about the ancestry of the father of our nation, even if he had a less than honorable origin. For I am the king and I would not take it lightly, especially from a Jew. With my cousin and brother nations we captured the city of Palms (Jericho) and forced the Israelites to pay me tribute for 18 years. Although a king, yet I arose upon hearing that a tributary brought a message from God. Who am I?

Glenn P. Palmer is stationed at Oostende, Belgium.