511 11 2 510 12 3 509 13 508 14 5 507 15 6 506 16 7 505 17 8 successes. According to Persian history, in the reign of Lohorasp, who I conceive to be Darius Hystaspis, one of his generals was given the title of Buchtulnasser for his This being the common title of the kings of Babylon, and Zopyrus the successful general of Darius having been made ruler of Babylon, we may fairly surmise that Zopyrus was the general to whom that title was given. He was commanded to extend the empire to the West, "and we are told by a Mahomedan author that an army was despatched by this chief against Jerusalem, which was then ruled by a descendant of David; who submitted on his advance, and gave up one of the principal men among the children of Israel, as an hostage for the faithful performance of the engagement he had entered into, to pay tribute to his conqueror. The Persian army had, however, only marched a short distance on its return, when the general who commanded it learnt that the Jews had risen, and put their ruler to death, as the author of a compact which they deemed disgraceful." -Sir John Malcolm's History of Persia, p. 55. With some little allowance for the different accounts given by opposite parties of the same transaction, we may apply this story to the putting to death of Holophernes, and the expedition against Judæa in the days of Judith. Scripture and Jewish Writers, &c. AHASUERUS at Susa. NEBUCHODONOSOR, or ARTAXERXES, Babylonia. The book of Judith, which was written in Chaldee, and probably came from Babylon, calls the king who reigned there at this time by his Babylonish title, Nebuchodonosor. We are compelled to place the book of Judith about the reign of Darius Hystaspis, because the events took place during the high-priesthood of Joiakim. It is also said, that the Jews at this time were lately returned from captivity, and the vessels, the altar, and the house, were sanctified after the profanation. Judith iv. 2, 3. There was none also that made the children of Israel any more afraid in the days of Judith, nor a long time after her death. Jud. xvi. 25. and she lived to 105 years of age. 23. 31 32 In Compared with Scripture Anno Length 496 26 17 DARIUS HYSTASPIS, reigning in Persia. Joia- kim. A few years before his expedition against 6 Greece, Darius sends his ambassadors to demand earth and water.-Herodot. 1. vi. c. 48. 491 31 22 Darius Hystaspis married Atossa, and 11 Artystone, both said to be daughters of Cyrus. Usher considers Artystone to have been the Esther of Scripture, as she is described as a virgin. On the other hand, it 490 32 23 was the son of Atossa that came to the throne, 12 and the Jews say that the son of Esther came to the throne: and the name Atossa is not very different from Hadassah, which was the Hebrew name of Esther. As she is 489 33 24 said to have concealed her real descent, the 13 Persians may have made her out to be of royal blood, in flattery to the young king. The two sons of Darius Xerxes and Artabazanes contend for the throne towards the end |