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successors could not maintain the supremacy of Assyria. After the final defeat of the
Scythians, the Medes, under Kyaxares, were advancing a second time against Assyria.
The last king of that empire was purposing himself to make a stand against them. But
Nabopalassar, instead of holding Babylonia for Assyria, had turned against it, and made
common cause with the enemy, cementing the new alliance by the marriage of his son,
Nebuchadnezzar, with Amytis, the daughter of Kyaxares. The two armies now marched
against Nineveh, which made brave resistance. Saracus destroyed himself in the flames of
his palace, and Nineveh was utterly laid waste.
With Nabopalassar, who founded the new Babylonian empire, began the period of the
Chaldees - as they are chiefly known to us in Scripture. Here we may at once indicate that
he was succeeded by his son, Nebuchadrezzar (or Nebuchadnezzar), and he in turn by his
son, Evil-merodach, who, after two years' reign, was dethroned by his brother-in-law,
Neriglissar. After four years (559-556, B.C.) Neriglissar was succeeded by his youthful
son, Laborosoarchod. After his murder, Nabonidos (Nabunit, Nabunaid)acceded to the
government, but after seventeen years' reign (555-539 B.C.) was dethroned by Cyrus.
The eldest son of Nabonidos, and heir to the throne, was Belshazzar, whom we know
from the Book of Daniel, where, in a not unusual manner, he is designated as the son, that
is, the descendant of Nebuchadrezzar (Daniel 5:2, 11, 18). We infer that, while his father,
Nabonidos, went to meet Cyrus, to whom he surrendered, thereby preserving his life,
Belshazzar had been left as "king" in Babylon,* at the taking of which he perished in the
night of his feast, described in Holy Scripture.
- The prominent position occupied by the "crown-prince" Belshazzar in the life-time of
his father has lately been established by a tablet, giving the annals of Nabonidos. Comp.
Schrader, u.s. p. 434.
From these almost necessary digressions we return to the Biblical history. It was three
years after his first expedition that Pharaoh Necho once more turned his arms against the
eastern empire. Even the direction of his march, as indicated by the battle fought at
Carchemish, shows that the expedition was really intended against Assyria. But Nineveh
had fallen, and the Egyptian army was encountered by the youthful heir to the new
Babylonian empire, Nebuchadrezzar - in the inscriptions Nabukudurri-usur* - "Nebo,
protect the crown."
- In the Book of Jeremiah he is also generally designated as Nebuchadrezzar, and always
so by Ezekiel.
The Egyptian army was thoroughly defeated and followed by the victorious
Nebuchadrezzar, who now recovered the Assyrian possessions in Western Asia, which
had been lost in the previous reign. The date of this battle deserves special attention. For
the victory of Carchemish (606 or 605 B.C.) was gained by the Babylonian army in the
fourth year of Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 46:2), and it was in the same fourth year of his reign
(^)