Collin, Your post has nothing to offer on the language of Hebrew, and only engages in discussion of historical issues pertaining to Daniel. It is, therefore, outside the purview of this forum. I'm, therefore, suspending discussion on this topic.
If you wish to contribute to B-Hebrew, then please stick to the forum's parameters. No more posts on this thread, please. GEORGE ATHAS Co-Moderator, B-Hebrew Sydney, Australia From: Collin Sadler <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Date: Friday, 15 June 2012 1:41 PM To: B-Hebrew <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Subject: [b-hebrew] Belshazzar and Darius Re: http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/b-hebrew/2000-February/006962.html To All, When one reads the book of Daniel, one is confronted with the person "Darius the Mede" who is cited as a Babylonian King, having the laws of the Medes and Persians. And if one were to fail to comprehend this ~contradiction~, one would easily believe this person is the Medo/Persian Ugbaru, governor of Gutium. But you should consider that this individual died less than a month after the capture of Babylon. And I believe that one could consider the relative expectation that Ugbaru entered the city with his full entourage. As such, it would seem illogical for this governor to appoint an unknown, untested, Jewish eunich to hold the top position as 1 of 3 Administrators over the entire kingdom. Furthermore, the events in Chapter 6 couldn't possibly reflect the circumstances in the immediate post-conquest window: When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed he was determined to rescue Daniel made every effort until sundown to save him "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!" the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating without any entertainment being brought to him he could not sleep. At the first light of dawn, the king got up hurried to the lions' den. called to Daniel in an anguished voice able to rescue you from the lions?" The king was overjoyed gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den The above appears to demonstrate a panic driven fear typical of a empire in distress in which the only one who could help light GOD's path for the sake of his empire's future, as well as his personal safety, was this DANIEL. Simple logic suggests the impossibility for a victorious Governor Ugbaru to take such an obsessive interest in this castrated stranger from some distant conquered Mediterranean city having only a ~3-week acquaintance. Thus Darius cannot possibly be "Ugbaru", but must be a Babylonian who has been caught in the throws of upheaval, which agrees with the circumstance in 11:1, where he had to be "strengthened" by the angel. So who is the victorious conqueror which needs strengthening, -- versus the soon to be vanquished? And in a Babylonian scenario, what would be the wrath of this King toward those conspirators who would add to his uncertainty and personal peril: 24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. And what would be the rejoicing of GOD's provision: 26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. I would also observe that in verse 30, Daniel served "Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian." -- Please note that if two are cited, and only one is a Persian (singular), then the other is not Persian. To continue the analysis, in Daniel 5 we find an interesting history. Nabonidus is off expanding the empire, leaving the poorly considered son, Nabonidus (Belshazzar), in charge of the kingdom. Cyrus lays siege to the city and what does Belshazzar do? Does he send messengers out to raise an army? Does he pursue alliances with other kingdoms? Does he even attempt a negotiated peace with Cyrus? Or does he declare a banquet? And when his noblemen see his foolishness, do they cast aside their own concerns of family and possessions, or do they conspire to divest themselves of this idiot son? And after the assassination who is the best individual to present at the negotiating table? Would it be a Chaldean or a man of kindred nation with Cyrus, a former Median Prince? Daniel 9:1 In the first year of Darius son of Ahasuerus (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom -- Please allow me to suggest that as Cyrus was consolidating a Medo/Persian empire, a Median King would have discerned that there was no future in Persia for his son, and thus saved his life by sending him to another kingdom. Similarly, a Babylonian administration would hope that a former Median prince might assuage the Medo/Persians at the gate. Thus this Median was selected as the new Babylonian King, in which his traditions followed him: Daniel 6:8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. But where some are confounded by a lack of historical record, this further confirms the Babylonian premise. If Babylon were under placed under siege, the city internal power shift would not be broadcast beyond the city gates. And equally, any post siege / pre-conquered Babylonian records would be destroyed by the victor to diminish any “good old days” reminiscing by the newly absorbed masses. But, the victor would keep immaculate records of his military actions and share them throughout the world’s libraries. Conclusion Virtually all scripture, reason, and historical evidence points to Darius as the last king of the Babylonian Empire. But what of 11:2? The commentators insist that the "three more" and "fourth" who arise in Persia are of the Medo/Persian Empire. Unfortunately history provides thirteen Medo/Persian kings, and the commentators argue between the first TEN as to the identity of the FOUR! It's unfortunate that so many stepsisters have so many offers to remove their toes to accommodate the glass slipper. Maybe the shoe just doesn't fit, but there's another which it does. Most Sincerely,Collin Sadler Ref: Walvoord, John, "Daniel, the Key to Prophetic Revelation" _______________________________________________ b-hebrew mailing list [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew _______________________________________________ b-hebrew mailing list [email protected] http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew
