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The Chairman (Rev. R. Thornton, D.D., V.P.). — I am sure I only repre- 

 sent the feeling of this meeting when I say that we are all greatly indebted 

 to Mr. Budge for his learned and interesting paper. (Applause.) We shall 

 now be happy to hear the remarks of any present who wish to speak upon 

 the subject with which Mr. Budge has so ably dealt. 



The Rev. H. A. Stern, D.D.— I venture to offer one or two observations 

 on the interesting and instructive paper that has just been read. First, 

 as regards the name of Nebuchadnezzar. I am inclined to think that it 

 signifies " Nebo," "the protector against troubles." The Hebrew words, 

 "111^3 " trouble," and "IVJ " to protect," seem to justify this interpretation. 

 Nebo is represented as the tutelar god of the most distinguished Babylonian 

 kings. Borsippa was under his protection ; and the great temple, the modern 

 Birs Nimrod, was dedicated to his service. In the Talmud Borsippa has a 

 very doubtful reputation, a good deal is said about it, but all in language 

 that is far from flattering ; it is said that the atmosphere is bad, and weakens 

 the memory. And again. Babel and Bursif are inimical to the study of 

 the Scriptures, because on that spot God confounded the language of the 

 buQders of the Tower of Babel. Another remark I would make on the 

 god Ea, one of the children of Zigaru, or Saitm, the Hebrew D."'0"^. The 

 name reminds one of what God said to Moses, when he asked for the 

 credentials of his mission, n^"l{;«! Tl.*'X n^HSI — "I am that I am" "hath sent 

 •ne unto you." Ea may be derived from H^n, to be, or to exist ; from 

 which comes Jehovah, the eternal, unchangeable God. The distinction 

 between Jehovah and Elohim is very questionable. They are synonymous 

 names of the Deity, as any one can convince himself by reading the first 

 three chapters of Genesis. " Then began man to call upon the name of 

 Jehovah." i^Vh'' Dt^3 K"lp^ bn-ln TX. Jewish commentators interpret this to 

 mean that, after the birth of Enos, men erected idols, which they called by 

 the name Jehovah. This appears to me to be far more consistent than such 

 a theory as is contained even in the remarks made in this interesting paper. 

 But in speaking of Ea, the god of life, I am reminded of a sect who, to this 

 day, dwell in the lower valley of the Euphrates, near its confluence with the 

 Tigris. They are called Mandaetis, not Mundaens, and more frequently 

 Christians of John the Baptist. They believe in " Chayah Kadmayah," 

 the origin of life or first cause, the infinite, eternal energy. Their sacred 

 books are called " Mandah Chayah," " knowledge of life," and they pretend 

 that they were delivered to their ancestors by Adam. They are written in 

 ancient Syriac, which they read without understanding the meaning of the 

 words. Many of their rites and ceremonies bear traces of Assyrian origin. 

 May they not be descendants of the ancient worshippers of Ea, Hea, or 

 n^n, the God of life and knowledge, the offspring of the sky ? There is 

 I reference in the paper to the size and splendour of Babylon. From the 

 xtent of the ruins which lie buried beneath the mounds that dot the desert 

 lain, it must have been a cityVorthy of the proud boast of Nebuchadnezzar: 



VOL. XVIII. ' O 



