providence and prophecy -- daniel 5

7/28/2019 Providence and Prophecy -- Daniel 5

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A Study of the Book of Daniel


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Berosus (Chaldean historian, quoted by Josephus):Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded in the kingdom by hisson Evilmerodach, who reigned badly and was put todeath by Neriglissor, the husband of his sister, after he

had reigned two years. This Neriglissor succeeded him,and reigned four years. His son Laborosoarchod, beingstill a child, reigned after him nine months, and wasmurdered by his friends, because he gave many proofs of

a bad character. His murderers by a general resolutiontransferred the government to Nabonnedus(Nabonidus), one of the Babylonians who belonged tothe conspirators.


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Under him the walls of Babylon along the river-banks werebetter built. But in the seventeenth year of his reign Cyruscame from Persia with a great army and took Babylon, afterhe had subjugated all the rest of Asia. Nobonnedus went outto encounter him, but was vanquished in battle, and fled

with a few followers and shut himself up in Borsippa. ButCyrus, after he had taken Babylon and demolished its walls,marched against Borsippa and besieged Nabonnedus. ButNabonnedus would not hold out, and therefore surrenderedhimself. He was at first treated humanely by Cyrus, whoremoved him from Babylon, and gave him Carmania as aplace of residence, where he spent the remainder of his daysand died. (Commentary on the Book of Daniel, Keil andDelitzsch, 1866)


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Keil and Delitsch, Ezekiel and Daniel pg 600:Herodotus and Xenophon describe [the last king ofBabylon] as the kings son, while Nabonnedus, accordingto both of these Chaldean historians, was not of royal

descent. Besides this, Xenophon states that the king losthis life at the taking of Babylon, while according toBerosus, on the contrary, he was not in Babylon at all,but was besieged in Borsippa, surrendered to Cyrus, and

was banished to Carmania, or according to Abydenus,was made deputy of that province. Shall we then decidefor Herodotus and Xenophon, and against Berosus andAbydenus?


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Herodotus and Xenophon

Last king of Babylon =the kings son.

King in Babylon at thetime of Babylons fall.

King was killed inBabylon

Last king of Babylon notof royal birth.

King not in Babylon, butin Borsippa.

King exiled and died ofnatural causes.

Berosus and Abydenus


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"As for me,Nabonidus, king ofBabylon, save me fromsinning against yourgreat godhead andgrant me as a present a

life long of days, andas for Belshazzar, theeldest son -myoffspring- instillreverence for yourgreat godhead in hisheart and may he not

commit any culticmistake, may he besated with a life ofplenitude."


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In the beginning of my everlasting reign they sent me adream. Marduk, the great lord, and Sin, the luminary ofheaven and the netherworld, stood together. Marduk spoke

with me: 'Nabonidus, king of Babylon, carry bricks on yourriding horse, rebuild Ehulhul and cause Sin, the great lord,to establish his residence in its midst.'

Reverently, I spoke to the Enlil of the gods, Marduk: 'Thattemple which you ordered me to build, the Mede surroundsit and his might is excessive.'

But Marduk spoke with me: 'The Mede whom youmentioned, he, his country and the kings who march at hisside will be no more.'


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when the third year was about to begin- he entrustedthe army [?] to his oldest son, his first born, the troopsin the country he ordered under his command. He leteverything go, entrusted the kingship to him, and,himself, he started out for a long journey.


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Herodotus and Xenophon

Last king of Babylon =the kings son.

King in Babylon at thetime of Babylons fall.

King was killed inBabylon

Last king of Babylon notof royal birth.

King not in Babylon, butin Borsippa.

King exiled and died ofnatural causes.

Berosus and Abydenus


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Mene Numbered Mina

Tekel Weighed Shekel

Peres/Parsin divided Half-shekel(s) Persians

The mystery of the writing does not seem to be in thelanguage or the characters, but in the meaning. The wordscan have more than one meaningwhich causedconfusion.

Table : The Peoples Bible, Daniel by John C.Jeske

providence and prophecy -- daniel 5

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