PROM WORLD-DOMINION TO SUBJECTION. 



133 



Rev. John Tuckwell, M.R.A.S. : I have listened with great 

 interest to Dr. Pinches' paper, and have imagined myself as some- 

 thing like an attendant at a funeral — the burial of the Higher 

 Criticism. One or two things interested me particularly. There 

 was the reference to astronomy. In our Chairman's book, The 

 Astronomy of the Bible, which I would earnestly recommend to every- 

 one who has not read it, it is pointed out that the Babylonians were 

 only just able to refer to constellations which came within their 

 purview. But farther north we have other constellations ; and I 

 think I am right in saying that he attributes the earliest knowledge 

 of astronomy to nationalities or tribes farther north, whose know- 

 ledge descended to the Babylonian plains when the first inhabitants 

 came from the mountains into the plains. 



Dr. Pinches has referred to the buildings of Nebuchadrezzar, who 

 stands upon his palace and says, " Is not this great Babylon which I 

 have built "? " He has a little hesitation in allowing those words to 

 be exactly appropriate to the Nebuchadrezzar of that time. But I 

 think, if I may recall the fact, it will serve to establish the state- 

 ment as correct that the city had been practically destroyed by 

 Nabopolassar. When, therefore, Nebuchadrezzar comes into posses- 

 sion of it, there would no doubt have been a great deal for him to 

 do. He would build the palaces and temples and erect new walls 

 around. It would not be understood by those who heard his words 

 that he had absolutely built the whole city as well as the temples 

 and other permanent buildings which it would be regarded as more 

 becoming he should build. 



May I refer to the use of the word Assyria 1 In several passages 

 of Scripture it is used as comprehending both Babylonia and Assyria. 

 We always speak of Assyriology to cover the whole science and 

 whole subject stated. So you find in the Book of Ezra the country 

 is called Assyria. Therefore it quite establishes the propriety of the 

 line used by Xenophon when he speaks of the whole country as 

 Assyria. I thank Dr. Pinches most heartily for his admirable paper, 

 which will be of great value in future in referring to the history of 

 the time as established in the Book of Daniel. 



Mr. M. L. Rouse, B.A., B.L. : When the conquest of Babylonia 

 began, one thing that attracted the conquerors was the immense fertil- 

 ity of the region. One of the chieftains returned with a great quantity 

 of dates, and said to his associates : " Look what spoil awaits you 



