Nineveh should never be taken until the river became its enemy, Sarac did everything which prudence and courage could suggest to resist the power of his foes. He sent off a great part of his treasures, with his children, to the care of his most intimate friend Cotta, Governor of Paphlagonia; stored up ammunition and provisions in abundance for the siege, and for the support of the inhabitants; and set his enemies at defiance. For nearly two years this state of things continued, the besiegers being unable to make any impression on the city, and the king of Assyria being too feeble to drive them from their post; until at length an unusual quantity of rain having fallen on the Mountains of Ararat, where the Tigris has its head, that river became so swollen that it rose above its banks, and the flood threw down about twenty furlongs of the city wall. The king, struck with dismay and despair at this unexpected fulfilment of the prophecy, had a pile prepared in his palace, and burnt himself, his concubines, and his treasures, to prevent them from falling into the hands of the enemy, who, having entered the city by the breach in the wall, sacked it, and razed it to the ground.

Thus perished Nineveh, after it had stood about nineteen hundred years from the time of Asshur, and had been the capital of one of the most extended empires that the world has ever seen.

It is impossible to turn away the mind from the contemplation of a political and military fabric, so venerable for its antiquity, so distinguished by its martial prowess, so wonderful in the literary and historic treasures of its ruined cities, without a thought respecting the great purposes of Divine Providence in the prolonged existence of this remarkable empire, and its connexion with the elect people of God, and the prophecies of Holy Scripture. (See Appendir, note 21.)

Having arisen out of the emigration of Asshur from his own appointed territory, in consequence of the usurpation of Nimrod, Assyria not only maintained her existence, but established her supremacy in Asia;-was the appointed agent of Providence in the subversion and captivity of the kingdom of Israel;-humbled in the dust an apostate king of Judah;-and, after recognising and bowing before. the authority of one of Jehovah's prophets in sackcloth and penitence, became an illustrious subject of divine prophecy, and verified in her history some of the most sublime predictions which ever emanated from the prescience of Jehovah. Wonderful was Assyria in her rise, her power,-her continued supremacy; still more wonderful in her fulfilment of sacred prophecy, and in sending forth from her ruined cities, after an entombment of twenty-four centuries, her records and annals for the instruction of the world.

CHAPTER IV.

THE HISTORY OF THE BABYLONIANS.

BABYLON the Seat of the first Postdiluvian Sovereignty-Conquered and subjected to Assyria-Policy of Assyria toward subject Countries-NABONASSAR-The Era bearing his Name-He was independent-NADIUS, CHINZIRUS, PORUS, and JUGEUS, successively reign-MARDOCEMPADUS or MERODACH-BALADAN-His Embassage to Hezekiah--ARCHIANUS-HAGISA-MARADACH BALDANES-BELIBUS defeated by Assyria-ASORDANESNABOPOLASSAR-Babylon asserts its Independence-Coalition of Babylon and Media against Nineveh-Scythian Invasion-Nineveh destroyed-The King of Egypt defeated at Carchemish-NEBUCHADNEZZAR-Takes Jerusalem-Carries away the principal Inhabitants into Captivity-Makes Zedekiah King-He rebels-Jerusalem again taken, and destroyed-Tyre taken, after a Siege of Thirteen Years-Egypt conquered -Nebuchadnezzar greatly improves Babylon by many Splendid Erections-Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of the Great Image-Explained by Daniel-Its wonderful Revelations -The Golden Image-Extraordinary Measures adopted for its Dedication-Heroism of the Three Hebrews-Glorious Revelation of the Son of God-Important Results of this Divine Interposition-The Dream of a Great Tree-Its Interpretation and Accomplishment-Noble Acknowledgment of the King-His Prophecy and Death-EVILMERODACH King-Liberates Jehoiachin from Prison-Neriglissar reigns-Forms a Combination against Media-He is slain in Battle-LABOROSARCHOD reigns-The BELSHAZZAR of the Book of Daniel-His Youth and Cruelty-He profanes the Sacred Vessels-Is slain-DARIUS takes the Kingdom, and appoints LABYNETUS Viceroy of Babylon-He rules subject to Media-Declares himself independent-Is defeated in Battle-Babylon taken by CYRUS-Labynetus taken at Borsippa, and sent into Carmania-Termination of the Babylonian Monarchy.

THE history of Babylon stands invested with special and peculiar interest, in consequence of its immediate connexion with the most terrible calamity inflicted on the Hebrew people, during the extended period to which this volume refers.

This country, as we have seen in a previous volume, (Patriarchal Age, pp. 431-434,) was the seat of the first kingly government established in the world after the flood. But, as there detailed, Babylon was conquered by Belus or Ninus, and added as a province to the Assyrian empire. It was in this state at the period when we are called to resume its history.

It must, however, be remembered, that in these ancient times the conquest and subjugation of a country did not prevent its retaining its separate national existence and government. No attempt appears to have been made to merge all the countries subdued by Assyria into one united and compact government. The kings of the several lands were allowed to reign, on their declaring their allegiance

to the imperial throne, and furnishing to the sovereign the required tribute. When this promise was not kept, and the contumacy of the vassal king brought down upon him the irresistible power of the imperial army, no change was made in the ruling policy. The rebellious chief, with his family and friends, if not put to death, was removed in chains, and another person appointed king of the subject country in his stead.

This practice renders it extremely difficult to elicit with accuracy the precise times when important countries, such as Babylon, Media, and others, really obtained their independence, as it is possible that they may have claimed this privilege long before the imperial state would recognise it. This was the case in respect of Babylon; and many writers, overlooking this circumstance, have been led into serious errors.

The first of those kings who ruled in Babylon, after its subjection to Assyria, of whom we have any definite information, was NABONASSAR. He ascended the throne B. C. 747; and made the period of his accession to the regal dignity the commencement of the famous Nabonassarean Era; (see Appendix, note 22;) which, in conjunction with the Greek, Roman, and Christian, completes the four great cardinal eras of sacred and profane history. The principle of this era was an avoidance of intercalary days. The year consisted of twelve months of thirty days each, with five supernumerary days; and was in consequence very convenient for astronomical calculations, and for this reason was adopted by the early Greek astronomers.

As Babylon rose into prominence and power under the rule of this sovereign, Sir Isaac Newton was led to conjecture that Nabonassar was a younger son of Pul, King of Assyria, who, it is supposed, left the imperial crown to his eldest son, Tiglath-Pileser, and the throne of Babylon to Nabonassar. But this conjecture, which has been partially adopted by Hales and other learned men, has no solid foundation in history. It is unquestionably true, and is attested by Alexander Polyhistor and the Astronomical Canon, that Babylon had always kings of her own from the earliest times. And as Clinton truly observes, "These kings were sometimes subjected to the Assyrians, and sometimes independent; but they never acquired extensive dominion till the time of Nebuchadnezzar. Nabonassar was independent."-Fasti Hellenici, vol. i, p. 278. Respecting this reign no further information of importance can be obtained.

Nabonassar was succeeded by NADIUS, who is said to have reigned two years; and he was followed by CHINZIRUS and PORUS, each of whom ruled five years. JUGEUS then ascended the throne, and reigned five years. Nothing whatever has been handed down to us

respecting the public or personal history of these kings. Nor is it probable that their names, as here given, are those by which they were known in their own country, since these bear no affinity to the Chaldee or Assyrian names.

MARDOCEMPADUS succeeded Jugæus. He is certainly the Merodach-Baladan of Holy Scripture; and is the first king of Babylon who is noticed in the Old Testament as having had any intercourse with the Hebrew nation. It seems more than probable that, up to this time, Nabonassar and his successors had ruled in Babylon virtually independent of Assyria; although it is equally probable that this independence was never proclaimed at Babylon, nor acknowledged at Nineveh. This prince appears to be the first Babylonian ruler who directed his attention to the extension of his dominion in Western Asia. Having informed himself of the state of the countries bordering on the Mediterranean Sea, and having heard that Hezekiah King of Judah had recovered from a dangerous illness, he sent ambassadors to the Hebrew monarch, congratulating him on his restoration to health. The king of Babylon alleged that he was induced to send this embassy mainly by a desire to have some explanation of the sun's wonderful retrocession, as a sign of the Hebrew king's recovery. 2 Chron. xxxii, 31.

It is probable, however, that the motives which prompted the Chaldæan monarch to this step went far beyond mere kindly compliment or scientific curiosity. Babylon at this time was beginning to feel a rivalry with Nineveh; and undoubtedly, in this visit to Judea, it was intended to cultivate a good understanding with the most powerful king of Western Asia. The sculptures recently discovered among the Assyrian ruins cast important light upon this event. They inform us that after Sennacherib had lost his great army in his celebrated campaign in Palestine and Egypt, he prosecuted a series of wars against this Babylonish monarch, until he had driven him out of the country, and compelled him to seek refuge "beyond the sea." The juxtaposition of these events is remarkable. Sennacherib's army is destroyed, and he returns in disgrace and confusion. Hezekiah is taken sick, and recovers. Merodach-Baladan sends his messengers to the Hebrew court:-while, the Assyrian king having in some measure repaired his loss, and organized a military force, the first object to which he directs his attention is a war with this king of Babylon, whom he succeeds in driving out of the country.

The Assyrian inscriptions state that, having driven out MerodachBaladan, Sennacherib appointed his son Esarhaddon to rule in Babylon, a fact which still further confirms the jealousy which the