It may be necessary to add, that the term "Darius" was not a Median proper name, but a title, Darawesh, "King." As used by the prophet Daniel, therefore, it simply means "the King of Media." It is a singular fact, that the oldest extant coins, Darics, which are supposed to have been made in the reign of the last king of Media, bear a name precisely similar to that of our principal gold coinage. They were from the royal title called Darics, which is exactly equivalent, in derivation and import, to our term "sovereigns."

E, page 357.-The Fulfilment of sacred Prophecy in the History of Media. As Media, in its individual nationality, had but little intercourse with the Hebrew people, it is not reasonable to expect a large amount of predictions in holy scripture relating to this nation. Accordingly, we find a few, and but a few, prophecies of this class. Yet even these are worthy of attention, as showing the perfection of the providential government of Jehovah, and the extent to which, in that age, his will was revealed to mankind through his holy prophets.

I. We have a prediction that, to some extent, Media would be brought into subjection or subserviency to Babylon.

This could not have been expected. Media took the lead in the subversion of the Assyrian empire. Babylon was, indeed, associated with Media; but the Chaldæans had never, like the Medes, dared alone to meet the full power of the imperial state. Yet when the Lord so fully proclaims the ascendancy to which he has appointed Nebuchadnezzar, and directs the prophet to give the cup of his fury to all the surrounding nations, that they may drink, and serve the king of Babylon,-among those enumerated we find "the kings of the Medes." (Jer. xxv. 25.)

We have no precise information respecting the conquest of Media by Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar; but we know that he subdued Persia, which had been subject to Media. In fact, during the supremacy of the great Babylonian conqueror, we hear nothing of Media in history. It perhaps owed its exemption from a harsher fate to the fact, that Nebuchadnezzar's wife was sister of the king of Media. It is, however, certain, that this kingdom was by Nebuchadnezzar not only checked in its career of conquest, but stripped of its tributary states, and shut up within the limits of its own territory, in timid and servile inaction, during the period referred to by the prophecy,— which thus received an ample accomplishment.

II. It was predicted, nevertheless, that Media should assist in the ruin of Babylon. Isaiah said, when denouncing, in the name of the Lord, the burden of Babylon, "Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them :" and again, Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media." (Isai. xiii. 17; xxi. 2.) And Jeremiah, in the name of Jehovah, calls this nation to this duty: "Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the Lord hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of his temple."

These predictions also were exactly fulfilled. Cyrus, having conquered Media, before he took Babylon, associated Persia (or Elam) and Media in the enterprise of investing and subduing it. In fact, it was by the discipline

and bravery of the Medes, united with the Persians, that both Cyrus and Darius took Babylon.

III. Again, Media is designated by the prophet as one of the elements constituting the second great universal empire. Hence the angel said to Daniel, “The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia :” (Dan. viii. 20 :) so that, according to the laws of Divine Providence, Media and Persia stood associated as integral elements of this great empire, even to the time when it was assailed and subdued by "the king of Greece." Consequently all the prophecies referring to the rise, progress, and power of this second kingdom-such as that respecting "the breast and arms of silver" of the great image, and the second beast like a bear—had a distinct and explicit reference to Media in common with Persia, —although it has been thought best to defer a special citation of them to the next chapter.

CHAPTER VII.

THE PERSIANS AND THE MEDO-PERSIAN EMPIRE.

PERSIA a Province of the Assyrian Empire-Peculiar Interest attaching to this Part of Persian History-The Spirit and Prowess of the Blacksmith Kawah obtains the Independence of his Country-FERIDOON placed on the Throne-His long and just Reign-He divides his Kingdom between his Sons, SELM, TOOR, and ERIJ-Erij slain by his Brothers-The Assassins defeated and slain by MANUCHEHER, who reigns with great Celebrity-Sam prime Minister-Roostum, his Grandson, the great Persian Hero, born-NOUZER succeeds to the Throne-His cruel Reign-He is slain-Zoo expels the Enemy-His Son KERSHASP raised to the Throne, and afterward deposed-End of the Peshdadian Dynasty-The Kaianian Dynasty-The Median Ascendancy concealed by imaginary Kings, KAI KOBAD representing Dejoces and Phraortes, and KAI Koos Cyaxares and Astyages-Reference to the Eclipse of Thales-KAI KHOSRU, or CYRUS, succeeds to the Throne-The Account of Ctesias respecting his Parentage-The probable Career of this Warrior, until he defeats and deposes Astyages-Cyrus marries the Daughter of Astyages-The Death of the deposed King-Cyrus conquers Lydia -Takes Babylon, and establishes an universal Empire-His Conduct toward the Hebrews-The Restoration of Jerusalem begun-Extent of the Persian Empire-The Death of Cyrus-CAMBYSES-He prohibits the Progress of Building at Jerusalem-Invades and conquers EgyptHis impolitic Cruelty and Impiety-Usurpation of Smerdis the Magian -Death of Cambyses-Smerdis destroyed by a Conspiracy of Nobles -DARIUS raised to the Throne-His improved Mode of GovernmentThe Case of Democedes, the Greek Physician-Makes an Edict in Favour of the Hebrews-Reduces Samos-Babylon rebels-The Selfsacrifice of Zopyrus-Babylon is taken-Conquests in the East-A Body of Greek Troops wage War in Asia Minor, and burn Sardis— Darius contemplates the Invasion of Greece-Failure of the first Expedition under Mardonius-Battle of Marathon, and Ruin of the second Persian Invasion-Death of Darius-Persepolis-Behistun Sculptures -XERXES-Subdues Egypt-Makes vast Preparations for the Invasion of Greece-Crosses the Hellespont-Battle at Thermopyla-The Persian Fleet defeated at Salamis, and their Army destroyed at Platæa— The Remnant of the Persian Fleet and Army destroyed at MycaleHorrible Crime and Cruelty perpetrated in the royal Court-Xerxes assassinated-ARTAXERXES I. established on the Throne-Marries Esther-Ezra and Nehemiah sent to Judea-Revolt of Egypt-Peace with Athens-XERXES II.-SOGDIANUS DARIUS NOTHUS subdues his Rivals-Excessive Demoralization of the Persian Court-ARTA

XERXES II.-Revolt of Cyrus-He marches into the East with a great Army-Is slain, and the Army dispersed, at Cunaxa-Retreat of the Ten Thousand Greeks-Continued Iniquity of the Court-Revolt and Death of the Heir-apparent-ARTAXERXES III. murders all the royal Family-Succeeds in restoring Persian Authority in Egypt, Phenicia, and Cyprus-DARIUS III. had scarcely undertaken the Government, when Alexander invaded the Empire-Continued Success and final Triumph of the Macedonian. NOTES. The personal History of Cyrus-Was Cyrus made acquainted with the Prophecies of Daniel? ~ The successful Opposition of the Governors of Syria and others to the Building of Jerusalem, and the Evidence thereby afforded of the Integrity and Perfection of the national Records at the Court of PersiaThe Deliberations of the Conspirators as to the future Government of Persia, and the Appointment of Darius Hystaspis to be King-The Succession of Xerxes to the Throne of Persia-The Behistun Inscriptions, containing Darius's own Account of his Wars-Did the Jews fight in the Army of Xerxes ?-The Inscriptions relating to the Reign of Xerxes-The Inscriptions relating to the Reign of Artaxerxes-The Fulfilment of sacred Prophecy in the History of Persia.

ON resuming the history of Persia, we find it a province of the great Assyrian empire, having been subdued by Ninus or his immediate successor, and placed in entire subjection to the imperial government.* This period of subjection is shrouded from public view, and its disparaging influence on the national fame concealed, by the Persian historians describing it as the reign of a tyrant sovereign, Zohauk, who is fabled to have ruled for a thousand years.

The history of Persia, especially during the time which has now to pass under review, will always possess the deepest interest. This nation stood in intimate and peculiar relation to the elect people of Jehovah, in the most eventful period of their career,-placed in trembling jeopardy the fate of Greece, in the outset of her glorious course,-and by its fall immortalized the greatest military genius the world ever produced. This portion of Persian history, therefore, cannot fail to excite deep and serious attention. A knowledge of the real facts of this period is, however, a very difficult acquirement. Sir William Jones calls the season of Assyrian domination over Persia the "dark and

* "Patriarchal Age," pp. 536, 537.

fabulous" age; and that which we have now to review, he designates the "heroic and poetical" age. And this is its true character, since we have to collect our information from the conflicting statements of ill-informed Greeks on the one hand, and from native writers, who disfigured all their annals with fable and poetry, on the other.

Amid this general darkness, however, we have clear and explicit information respecting the deliverance of Persia from her vassalage to Assyria, and her restoration to independence. As this foreign domination was described in the Persian annals as the tyranny of a monster king, named Zohauk, whose rapacity and cruelty were fast spoiling and depopulating the land; so the emancipation of Persia is spoken of as the defeat and death of this tyrant. This event was effected by the spirit and prowess of a humble blacksmith named Kawah. Zohauk having selected Kawah's two sons to be victims of his cruelty, Kawah rose in bold resistance. Having armed himself, and succeeded in rousing the spirit of his countrymen, he raised his blacksmith's apron on a pole as his banner; and, proceeding with the force thus collected, he defeated the royal troops. Kawah being afterward joined by great numbers of Persians, who now saw the dawn of hope for their country, the insurrection was continued, and extended, until Zohauk was defeated and slain, and Persia restored to liberty and independence.

FERIDOON-a young prince descended from the ancient royal family of the kingdom, who had hitherto lived in seclusion-joined the victorious blacksmith, and was, on the termination of the war, raised to the throne. The first act of the new sovereign was to appoint the old apron of Kawah as the royal standard of Persia; and as such it continued to be recognised during all the fluctuations of the national history, until the conquest of the kingdom by the Mahommedans, when it was taken, studded with gems with which it had been from time to time enriched.

This prince is said to have ruled with great justice and moderation. But, he having lived to a great age, his last