190 



'r. G. PINCHES, LL.D., M.R.A.S._, ON 



that Cyrus entered Babylon, and was met by the harine, which 

 I have doubtfully rendered as deputations — the rendering 

 demanded, apparently, by the context. It is noteworthy that 

 Belshazzar was killed a week after the arrival of Cyrus at 

 Babylon, but the honour of the capture of the inner city or 

 citadel belongs to Gobryas. Though Cyrus had no hand in the 

 operations, it is probable that the attack was only decided on 

 after consultation with him — as for the deputations, they 

 evidently knew that it was Cyrus who was king, and that every- 

 thing depended upon him. 



As Nabonidus had been captured, Belshazzar, his son, became 

 king in the eyes of the Babylonians, and is rightly so regarded 

 in Daniel — indeed, it is not improbable that he had been 

 associated with his fatlier on the throne for many years ; hence, 

 as has been often pointed out, the appointment of Daniel, by 

 Belshazzar, as " the third ruler in the kingdom." Note, also, 

 that this appointment on the part of Belshazzar implies that he 

 regarded his father as being still alive, and still virtual head of 

 the state. Daniel, however, was fully aware of the precarious 

 position of his royal master, shut up there in the inner city, or 

 in the citadel, with the Medo-Persian army at his gates, and 

 the answer which he is stated to have given is not one which we 

 should regard as altogether respectful. " Let thy gifts be to 

 thyself, and give thy rewards to another," was the preface to his 

 interpretation of the handwriting. Though we have much to 

 learn about this historical event, so far all the records fit well 

 in together. Babylon was taken, as the Babylonian record says, 

 without fighting, but " the city of the king's house " still held 

 out. It was to gain this that the army of Cyrus entered by the 

 drained river-bed, and it was there that the last stand of the 

 Babylonians took place. 



Notes. 



P. 167. For a translation of the Semitic Creation-Story, see the 

 Journal of the Victoria Institute, 1903, pp. 17-56. 



P. 168. Dr. Poebel's description appeared in the Philadelphia 

 Museum Journal for June, 1913. 



P. 169. The concluding lines of the Daily Telegraph fragment 

 quoted are, as far as they are preserved, as follows: — 



7. . . all the denizens, all of the creation . . . 



8 which in the assembly of my family . . . 



9 and Niii-igi-azaga .... 



10 the assembly of the denizens was glorious 



