the necropolis of the Assyrian kings, as the whole region is strewed with
bricks and the remains of coffins. “Standing on the summit of the principal
edifice, called the Buwarizza, a tower 200 feet square in the centre of the
ruins, the beholder is struck with astonishment at the enormous
accumulation of mounds and ancient relics at his feet. An irregular circle,
nearly 6 miles in circumference, is defined by the traces of an earthen
rampart, in some places 40 feet high.”
- ESAIAS the Greek form for Isaiah, constantly used in the Authorized
Version of the New Testament (Matthew 3:3; 4:14), but in the Revised
Version always “Isaiah.” - ESARHADDON Assur has given a brother, successor of Sennacherib (2
Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37:38). He ascended the throne about B.C. 681.
Nothing further is recorded of him in Scripture, except that he settled
certain colonists in Samaria (Ezra 4:2). But from the monuments it appears
that he was the most powerful of all the Assyrian monarchs. He built
many temples and palaces, the most magnificent of which was the
south-west palace at Nimrud, which is said to have been in its general
design almost the same as Solomon’s palace, only much larger (1 Kings
7:1-12).
In December B.C. 681 Sennacherib was murdered by two of his sons, who,
after holding Nineveh for forty-two days, were compelled to fly to
Erimenas of Ararat, or Armenia. Their brother Esarhaddon, who had been
engaged in a campaign against Armenia, led his army against them. They
were utterly overthrown in a battle fought April B.C. 680, near Malatiyeh,
and in the following month Esarhaddon was crowned at Nineveh. He
restored Babylon, conquered Egypt, and received tribute from Manasseh
of Judah. He died in October B.C. 668, while on the march to suppress an
Egyptian revolt, and was succeeded by his son Assur-bani-pal, whose
younger brother was made viceroy of Babylonia.
- ESAU hairy, Rebekah’s first-born twin son (Genesis 25:25). The name of
Edom, “red”, was also given to him from his conduct in connection with
the red lentil “pottage” for which he sold his birthright (30, 31). The
circumstances connected with his birth foreshadowed the enmity which
afterwards subsisted between the twin brothers and the nations they
founded (25:22, 23, 26). In process of time Jacob, following his natural
bent, became a shepherd; while Esau, a “son of the desert,” devoted