Persia from the Earliest Period to the Arab
Persia from the Earliest Period to the Arab
Persia from the Earliest Period to the Arab
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HISTORY OF PERSIA. 83<br />
Belshazzar, and <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> memorable night during which<br />
<strong>the</strong> army of " Darius <strong>the</strong> Median "<br />
silently entered<br />
Babylon through <strong>the</strong> unguarded river-gates. Of himself,<br />
he<br />
"<br />
simply adds, This Daniel prospered in <strong>the</strong><br />
reign of Darius, and in <strong>the</strong> reign of Cyrus <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Persia</strong>n 1 ;" in o<strong>the</strong>r words, he survived <strong>the</strong> whole<br />
seventy years of <strong>the</strong> captivity, while we know far<strong>the</strong>r<br />
also <strong>from</strong> himself, that " in <strong>the</strong> third year of <strong>the</strong> reign<br />
of King Belshazzar " he was at Shushan (Susa), doing<br />
" <strong>the</strong> king's business 2 ." In bringing <strong>to</strong> a close this<br />
short notice of Daniel, I think it may be useful <strong>to</strong><br />
give a list of his visions, dreams, and prophecies, with<br />
<strong>the</strong> interpretation of <strong>the</strong>m usually accepted ; this list,<br />
with no<br />
however, is intended <strong>to</strong> be perfectly general,<br />
reference <strong>to</strong> any of <strong>the</strong> special <strong>the</strong>ories of prophecy,<br />
upheld or rejected by such writers as Maitland, Faber,<br />
or Elliot.<br />
Thus :<br />
603 : The<br />
i. In <strong>the</strong> second year of Nebuchadnezzar 3 , B.C.<br />
explanation of <strong>the</strong> royal dream of <strong>the</strong><br />
image representing <strong>the</strong> Four Great Monarchies.<br />
a. The golden head <strong>the</strong> Assyrio-Babylonian<br />
empire.<br />
b. The silver breast and arms <strong>the</strong> Medo-<br />
<strong>Persia</strong>n empire.<br />
1 Dan. vi. 28.<br />
2 The visit <strong>to</strong> Susa is dated by Daniel "in <strong>the</strong> third year of<br />
Belshazzar," that is, at <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> third unfinished year, a<br />
mode of reference not uncommon. The so-called <strong>to</strong>mb of Daniel,<br />
of which Mr. Loftus has given a drawing, below <strong>the</strong> ruins of<br />
<strong>the</strong> ancient city (though itself a mediaeval structure), attests <strong>the</strong><br />
tradition of <strong>the</strong> burial of <strong>the</strong> prophet in that neighbourhood,<br />
and is still <strong>the</strong> yearly resort of hundreds of Jewish pilgrims.<br />
3 Dan. xi. 32.