448
[Whiston sect. 1] [sect. 219] NOW when king Nebuchadnezzar had reigned forty-three years, 449
he ended his life. He was an active man, and more fortunate than the kings
that were before him. Now Berosus makes mention of his actions in the third
book of his Chaldaic History, where he says thus: "When his father
Nebuchodonosor [Nabopollassar] heard that the governor whom he had set
over Egypt, and the places about Coelesyria and Phoenicia, had revolted
from him, while he was not himself able any longer to undergo the hardships
[of war], he committed to his son Nebuchadnezzar, who was still but a youth,
some parts of his army, and sent them against him. So when Nebuchadnezzar
had given battle, and fought with the rebel, he beat him, and reduced the
country from under his subjection, and made it a branch of his own kingdom;
but about that time it happened that his father Nebuchodonosor [Nabopollassar]
fell ill, and ended his life in the city Babylon, when he had reigned twenty-one
years; 450
and when he was made sensible, as he was in a little time, that his father
Nebuchodonosor [Nabopollassar] was dead, and having settled the affairs
of Egypt, and the other countries, as also those that concerned the captive
Jews, and Phoenicians, and Syrians, and those of the Egyptian nations;
and having committed the conveyance of them to Babylon to certain of his
friends, together with the gross of his army, and the rest of their ammunition
and provisions, he went himself hastily, accompanied with a few others,
over the desert, and came to Babylon. So he took upon him the management
of public affairs, and of the kingdom which had been kept for him by one
that was the principal of the Chaldeans, and he received the entire dominions
of his father, and appointed, that when the captives came, they should
be placed as colonies, in the most proper places of Babylonia; but then
he adorned the temple of Belus, and the rest of the temples, in a magnificent
manner, with the spoils he had taken in the war. He also added another
city to that which was there of old, and rebuilt it, that such as would
besiege it hereafter might no more turn the course of the river, and thereby
attack the city itself. He therefore built three walls round about the
inner city, and three others about that which was the outer, and this he
did with burnt brick. And after he had, after a becoming manner, walled
the city, and adorned its gates gloriously, he built another palace before
his father's palace, but so that they joined to it; to describe whose vast
height and immense riches it would perhaps be too much for me to attempt;
yet as large and lofty as they were, they were completed in fifteen days.
451
He also erected elevated places for walking, of stone, and made it resemble
mountains, and built it so that it might be planted with all sorts of trees.
He also erected what was called a pensile paradise, because his wife was
desirous to have things like her own country, she having been bred up in
the palaces of Media." Megasthenes also, in his fourth book of his
Accounts of India, makes mention. of these things, and thereby endeavors
to show that this king [Nebuchadnezzar] exceeded Hercules in fortitude,
and in the greatness of his actions; for he saith that he conquered a great
part of Libya and Iberia. Diocles also, in the second book of his Accounts
of Persia, mentions this king; as does Philostrates in his Accounts both
of India and of Phoenicia, say, that this king besieged Tyre thirteen years,
while at the same time Ethbaal reigned at Tyre. These are all the histories
that I have met with concerning this king.
[Whiston sect. 2] [sect. 229] But now, after the death of Nebuchadnezzar, Evil-Merodach his son
succeeded in the kingdom, who immediately set Jeconiah at liberty, and
esteemed him among his most intimate friends. He also gave him many presents,
and made him honorable above the rest of the kings that were in Babylon;
for his father had not kept his faith with Jeconiah, when he voluntarily
delivered up himself to him, with his wives and children, and his whole
kindred, for the sake of his country, that it might not be taken by siege,
and utterly destroyed, as we said before. When Evil-Mcrodach was dead,
after a reign of eighteen years, Niglissar his son took the government,
and retained it forty years, and then ended his life; and after him the
succession in the kingdom came to his son Labosordacus, who continued in
it in all but nine months; and when he was dead, it came to Baltasar, 452
who by the Babylonians was called Naboandelus; against him did Cyrus, the
king of Persia, and Darius, the king of Media, make war; and when he was
besieged in Babylon, there happened a wonderful and prodigious vision.
He was sat down at supper in a large room, and there were a great many
vessels of silver, such as were made for royal entertainments, and he had
with him his concubines and his friends; whereupon he came to a resolution,
and commanded that those vessels of God which Nebuchadnezzar had plundered
out of Jerusalem, and had not made use of, but had put them into his own
temple, should be brought out of that temple. He also grew so haughty as
to proceed to use them in the midst of his cups, drinking out of them,
and blaspheming against God. In the mean time, he saw a hand proceed out
of the wall, and writing upon the wall certain syllables; at which sight,
being disturbed, he called the magicians and Chaldeans together, and all
that sort of men that are among these barbarians, and were able to interpret
signs and dreams, that they might explain the writing to him. But when
the magicians said they could discover nothing, nor did understand it,
the king was in great disorder of mind, and under great trouble at this
surprising accident; so he caused it to be proclaimed through all the country,
and promised, that to him who could explain the writing, and give the signification
couched therein, he would give him a golden chain for his neck, and leave
to wear a purple garment, as did the kings of Chaldea, and would bestow
on him the third part of his own dominions. When this proclamation was
made, the magicians ran together more earnestly, and were very ambitious
to find out the importance of the writing, but still hesitated about it
as much as before. Now when the king's grandmother saw him cast down at
this accident, 453
she began to encourage him, and to say, that there was a certain captive
who came from Judea, a Jew by birth, but brought away thence by Nebuchadnezzar
when he had destroyed Jerusalem, whose name was Daniel, a wise man, and
one of great sagacity in finding out what was impossible for others to
discover, and what was known to God alone, who brought to light and answered
such questions to Nebuchadnezzar as no one else was able to answer when
they were consulted. She therefore desired that he would send for him,
and inquire of him concerning the writing, and to condemn the unskilfulness
of those that could not find their meaning, and this, although what God
signified thereby should be of a melancholy nature.
[Whiston sect. 3] [sect. 239] When Baltasar heard this, he called for Daniel; and when he had discoursed
to him what he had learned concerning him and his wisdom, and how a Divine
Spirit was with him, and that he alone was fully capable of finding out
what others would never have thought of, he desired him to declare to him
what this writing meant; that if he did so, he would give him leave to
wear purple, and to put a chain of gold about his neck, and would bestow
on him the third part of his dominion, as an honorary reward for his wisdom,
that thereby he might become illustrious to those who saw him, and who
inquired upon what occasion he obtained such honors. But Daniel desired
that he would keep his gifts to himself; for what is the effect of wisdom
and of Divine revelation admits of no gifts, and bestows its advantages
on petitioners freely; but that still he would explain the writing to him;
which denoted that he should soon die, and this because he had not learnt
to honor God, and not to admit things above human nature, by what punishments
his progenitor had undergone for the injuries he had offered to God; and
because he had quite forgotten how Nebuchadnezzar was removed to feed among
wild beasts for his impieties, and did not recover his former life among
men and his kingdom, but upon God's mercy to him, after many supplications
and prayers; who did thereupon praise God all the days of his life, as
one of almighty power, and who takes care of mankind. [He also put him
in mind] how he had greatly blasphemed against God, and had made use of
his vessels amongst his concubines; that therefore God saw this, and was
angry with him, and declared by this writing beforehand what a sad conclusion
of his life he should come to. And he explained the writing thus:"
MANEH. This, if it be expounded in the Greek language, may signify a Number,
because God hath numbered so long a time for thy life, and for thy government,
and that there remains but a small portion. THEKEL This signifies a weight,
and means that God hath weighed thy kingdom in a balance, and finds it
going down already.--PHARES. This also, in the Greek tongue, denotes a
fragment,. God will therefore break thy kingdom in pieces, and divide
it among the Medes and Persians."
[Whiston sect. 4] [sect. 245] When Daniel had told the king that the writing upon the wall signified
these events, Baltasar was in great sorrow and affliction, as was to be
expected, when the interpretation was so heavy upon him. However, he did
not refuse what he had promised Daniel, although he were become a foreteller
of misfortunes to him, but bestowed it all upon him; as reasoning thus,
that what he was to reward was peculiar to himself, and to fate, and did
not belong to the prophet, but that it was the part of a good and a just
man to give what he had promised, although the events were of a melancholy
nature. Accordingly, the king determined so to do. Now, after a little
while, both himself and the city were taken by Cyrus, the king of Persia,
who fought against him; for it was Baltasar, under whom Babylon was taken,
when he had reigned seventeen years. And this is the end of the posterity
of king Nebuchadnezzar, as history informs us; but when Babylon was taken
by Darius, and when he, with his kinsman Cyrus, had put an end to the dominion
of the Babylonians, he was sixty-two years old. He was the son of Astyages,
and had another name among the Greeks. Moreover, he took Daniel the prophet,
and carried him with him into Media, and honored him very greatly, and
kept him with him; for he was one of the three presidents whom he set over
his three hundred and sixty provinces, for into so many did Darius part
them.
[Whiston sect. 5] [sect. 250] However, while Daniel was in so great dignity, and in so great favor
with Darius, and was alone intrusted with every thing by him, a having
somewhat divine in him, he was envied by the rest; for those that see others
in greater honor than themselves with kings envy them; and when those that
were grieved at the great favor Daniel was in with Darius sought for an
occasion against him, he afforded them no occasion at all, for he was above
all the temptations of money, and despised bribery, and esteemed it a very
base thing to take any thing by way of reward, even when it might be justly
given him; he afforded those that envied him not the least handle for an
accusation. So when they could find nothing for which they might calumniate
him to the king, nothing that was shameful or reproachful, and thereby
deprive him of the honor he was in with him, they sought for some other
method whereby they might destroy him. When therefore they saw that Daniel
prayed to God three times a day, they thought they had gotten an occasion
by which they might ruin him; so they came to Darius and told him that
the princes and governors had thought proper to allow the multitude a relaxation
for thirty days, that no one might offer a petition or prayer either to
himself or to the gods, but that he who shall transgress this decree shall
be east into the den of lions, and there perish."
[Whiston sect. 6] [sect. 254] Whereupon the king, not being acquainted with their wicked design,
nor suspecting that it was a contrivance of theirs against Daniel, said
he was pleased with this decree of theirs, and he promised to confirm what
they desired; he also published an edict to promulgate to the people that
decree which the princes had made. Accordingly, all the rest took care
not to transgress those injunctions, and rested in quiet; but Daniel had
no regard to them, but, as he was wont, he stood and prayed to God in the
sight of them all; but the princes having met with the occasion they so
earnestly sought to find against Daniel, came presently to the king, and
accused him, that Daniel was the only person that transgressed the decree,
while not one of the rest durst pray to their gods. This discovery they
made, not because of his impiety, but because they had watched him, and
observed him out of envy; for supposing that Darius did thus out of a greater
kindness to him than they expected, and that he was ready to grant him
pardon for this contempt of his injunctions, and envying this very pardon
to Daniel, they did not become more honorable to him, but desired he might
be cast into the den of lions according to the law. So Darius, hoping that
God would deliver him, and that he would undergo nothing that was terrible
by the wild beasts, bid him bear this accident cheerfully. And when he
was cast into the den, he put his seal to the stone that lay upon the mouth
of the den, and went his way, but he passed all the night without food
and without sleep, being in great distress for Daniel; but when it was
day, he got up, and came to the den, and found the seal entire, which he
had left the stone sealed withal; he also opened the seal, and. cried out,
and called to Daniel, and asked him if he were alive. And as soon as he
heard the king's voice, and said that he had suffered no harm, the king
gave order that he should be drawn up out of the den. Now when his enemies
saw that Daniel had suffered nothing which was terrible, they would not
own that he was preserved by God, and by his providence; but they said
that the lions had been filled full with food, and on that account it was,
as they supposed, that the lions would not touch Daniel, nor come to him;
and this they alleged to the king. But the king, out of an abhorrence of
their wickedness, gave order that they should throw in a great deal of
flesh to the lions; and when they had filled themselves, he gave further
order that Daniel's enemies should be cast into the den, that he might
learn whether the lions, now they were full, would touch them or not. And
it appeared plain to Darius, after the princes had been cast to the wild
beasts, that it was God who preserved 454
for the lions spared none of them, but tore them all to pieces, as if they
had been very hungry, and wanted food. I suppose therefore it was not their
hunger, which had been a little before satisfied with abundance of flesh,
but the wickedness of these men, that provoked them [to destroy the princes];
for if it so please God, that wickedness might, by even those irrational
creatures, be esteemed a plain foundation for their punishment.
[Whiston sect. 7] [sect. 263] When therefore those that had intended thus to destroy Daniel by
treachery were themselves destroyed, king Darius sent [letters] over all
the country, and praised that God whom Daniel worshipped, and said that
he was the only true God, and had all power. He had also Daniel in very
great esteem, and made him the principal of his friends. Now when Daniel
was become so illustrious and famous, on account of the opinion men had
that he was beloved of God, he built a tower at Ecbatana, in Media: it
was a most elegant building, and wonderfully made, and it is still remaining,
and preserved to this day; and to such as see it, it appears to have been
lately built, and to have been no older than that very day when any one
looks upon it, it is so fresh 455
flourishing, and beautiful, and no way grown old in so long time; for buildings
suffer the same as men do, they grow old as well as they, and by numbers
of years their strength is dissolved, and their beauty withered. Now they
bury the kings of Media, of Persia, and Parthia in this tower to this day,
and he who was entrusted with the care of it was a Jewish priest; which
thing is also observed to this day. But it is fit to give an account of
what this man did, which is most admirable to hear, for he was so happy
as to have strange revelations made to him, and those as to one of the
greatest of the prophets, insomuch, that while he was alive he had the
esteem and applause both of the kings and of the multitude; and now he
is dead, he retains a remembrance that will never fail, for the several
books that he wrote and left behind him are still read by us till this
time; and from them we believe that Daniel conversed with God; for he did
not only prophesy of future events, as did the other prophets, but he also
determined the time of their accomplishment. And while prophets used to
foretell misfortunes, and on that account were disagreeable both to the
kings and to the multitude, Daniel was to them a prophet of good things,
and this to such a degree, that by the agreeable nature of his predictions,
he procured the goodwill of all men; and by the accomplishment of them,
he procured the belief of their truth, and the opinion of [a sort of] divinity
for himself, among the multitude. He also wrote and left behind him what
made manifest the accuracy and undeniable veracity of his predictions;
for he saith, that when he was in Susa, the metropolis of Persia, and went
out into the field with his companions, there was, on the sudden, a motion
and concussion of the earth, and that he was left alone by himself, his
friends fleeing away from him, and that he was disturbed, and fell on his
face, and on his two hands, and that a certain person touched him, and,
at the same time, bid him rise, and see what would befall his countrymen
after many generations. He also related, that when he stood up, he was
shown a great rain, with many horns growing out of his head, and that the
last was higher than the rest: that after this he looked to the west, and
saw a he-goat carried through the air from that quarter; that he rushed
upon the ram with violence, and smote him twice with his horns, and overthrew
him to the ground, and trampled upon him: that afterward he saw a very
great horn growing out of the head of the he-goat, and that when it was
broken off, four horns grew up that were exposed to each of the four winds,
and he wrote that out of them arose another lesser horn, which, as he said,
waxed great; and that God showed to him that it should fight against his
nation, and take their city by force, and bring the temple worship to confusion,
and forbid the sacrifices to be offered for one thousand two hundred and
ninety-six days. Daniel wrote that he saw these visions in the Plain of
Susa; and he hath informed us that God interpreted the appearance of this
vision after the following manner: He said that the ram signified the kingdoms
of the Medes and Persians, and the horns those kings that were to reign
in them; and that the last horn signified the last king, and that he should
exceed all the kings in riches and glory: that the he-goat signified that
one should come and reign from the Greeks, who should twice fight with
the Persian, and overcome him in battle, and should receive his entire
dominion: that by the great horn which sprang out of the forehead of the
he-goat was meant the first king; and that the springing up of four horns
upon its falling off, and the conversion of every one of them to the four
quarters of the earth, signified the successors that should arise after
the death of the first king, and the partition of the kingdom among them,
and that they should be neither his children, nor of his kindred, that
should reign over the habitable earth for many years; and that from among
them there should arise a certain king that should overcome our nation
and their laws, and should take away their political government, and should
spoil the temple, and forbid the sacrifices to be offered for three years'
time. And indeed it so came to pass, that our nation suffered these things
under Antiochus Epiphanes, according to Daniel's vision, and what he wrote
many years before they came to pass. In the very same manner Daniel also
wrote concerning the Roman government, and that our country should be made
desolate by them. All these things did this man leave in writing, as God
had showed them to him, insomuch that such as read his prophecies, and
see how they have been fulfilled, would wonder at the honor wherewith God
honored Daniel; and may thence discover how the Epicureans are in an error,
who cast Providence out of human life, and do not believe that God takes
care of the affairs of the world, nor that the universe is governed and
continued in being by that blessed and immortal nature, but say that the
world is carried along of its own accord, without a ruler and a curator;
which, were it destitute of a guide to conduct it, as they imagine, it
would be like ships without pilots, which we see drowned by the winds,
or like chariots without drivers, which are overturned; so would the world
be dashed to pieces by its being carried without a Providence, and so perish,
and come to nought. So that, by the forementioned predictions of Daniel,
those men seem to me very much to err from the truth, who determine that
God exercises no providence over human affairs; for if that were the case,
that the world went on by mechanical necessity, we should not see that
all things would come to pass according to his prophecy. Now as to myself,
I have so described these matters as I have found them and read them; but
if any one is inclined to another opinion about them, let him enjoy his
different sentiments without any blame from me.
Book 11 Book XI
CONTAINING THE INTERVAL OF TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-THREE YEARS
AND FIVE MONTHS.
FROM THE FIRST OF CYRUS TO THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER THE
GREAT.
Ch. 1