183 
ration, no better explanation can be obtained for Nipru than 
the hunter * * * § A strong confirmation of this being the right 
meaning is found in the expressions of Tiglath Pileser I., 
who boasts of having hunted the people of Bilu-Nipru (the 
Divine hunter). Sargon also speaks of the 350 kings from 
remote antiquity, who ruled over Assyria, and hunted the 
people of Bilu-Nipru, the verb napar being used in each 
passage, and the allusion being apparently to the original 
Nipru, or Nimrod, having proved himself a mighty hunter 
before the Lord. 
The name of this chieftain had at first, in all probability, 
some reference to Nimr, the leopard. t Whilst honoured by 
divine titles by his people, he is in the religious history of 
mankind noted as the Rebel. Another name by which he is 
marked out seems to be that of Cliesil or the Fool, 
in allusion to his arrogant presumption. This is the name 
given in Scripture to the constellation Orion, which the 
orientals call “ The Giant,” and the Chaldeans apparently 
Doumouzi or Tammuz.J 
According to the learned Assyriologist from whom I have 
quoted above, it is very difficult to distinguish between Bel 
Merodach (the planet Jupiter) and Bel Nimrod (the god 
Nimrod). He was identified with the star of Babylon’s 
adoration, and the influence of his character impressed itself 
on many succeeding generations. In fact, as long as the 
world yields homage to “ Caesarism ” as simply the embodi- 
ment of power, it will yield its assent to the principles of 
Nimrod’s government. 
I am not writing as a theologian or as a politician, nor as 
competent to expound all the figurative language of Scripture, 
but I find exactly what I want to express my idea in striking 
metaphor, when out of the sea I behold arising (in Rev. xiii.) 
a wild beast (Oypiov, “ a savage beast”) like unto a leopard, § 
acting on its own instincts, but invested by “ the dragon ” 
with his power and his seat and great authority. I havo 
dwelt upon “ the great authority ” and the u seat ” of “ the 
serpent god,” but must recall that his seat must be associated 
both with Eden and Babylon. “ And all the world wondered 
after the Beast.” || Whatever may be the fulfilment, this 
* Rawlinson’s Herodotus , vol. i. p. 491. 
t Les Origines , p. 247, note. 
X The leopard is found in Babylonia, and called Nemcr , S.B.A. Tr ., 
v. 326. The Assyrian name on the monument is Ne-em ru. “ The nations 
of Africa seem, in some way, to connect the leopard’s skin with the idea of 
royalty .” — Smith’s Diet., sub voce. 
§ See Liddell and Scott, Lex. 
VOL. XV. 
O 
|| Rev. xiii. 3. 
