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or complain of my management； and have told them in the beginning
of this history； that I intended to do no more than translate the
Hebrew books into the Greek language； and promised them to
explain those facts； without adding any thing to them of my own；
or taking any thing away from there。
CHAPTER 11。
Concerning Nebuchadnezzar And His Successors And How Their
Government Was Dissolved By The Persians； And What Things Befell
DanieL In Media； And What PropHecies He Delivered There。
1。 Now when king Nebuchadnezzar had reigned forty…three years；
（20） he ended his life。 He was an active man； and more fortunate
than the kings that were before him。 Now Berosus makes mention of
his actions in the third book of his Chaldaic History； where he
says thus： 〃When his father Nebuchodonosor ＇Nabopollassar＇ heard
that the governor whom he had set over Egypt； and the places
about Coelesyria and Phoenicia； had revolted from him； while he
was not himself able any longer to undergo the hardships ＇of
war＇； he committed to his son Nebuchadnezzar； who was still but a
youth； some parts of his army； and sent them against him。 So when
Nebuchadnezzar had given battle； and fought with the rebel； he
beat him； and reduced the country from under his subjection； and
made it a branch of his own kingdom； but about that time it
happened that his father Nebuchodonosor ＇Nabopollassar＇ fell ill；
and ended his life in the city Babylon； when he had reigned
twenty…one years； （21） and when he was made sensible； as he was
in a little time； that his father Nebuchodonosor ＇Nabopollassar＇
was dead； and having settled the affairs of Egypt； and the other
countries； as also those that concerned the captive Jews； and
Phoenicians； and Syrians； and those of the Egyptian nations； and
having committed the conveyance of them to Babylon to certain of
his friends； together with the gross of his army； and the rest of
their ammunition and provisions； he went himself hastily；
accompanied with a few others； over the desert； and came to
Babylon。 So he took upon him the management of public affairs；
and of the kingdom which had been kept for him by one that was
the principal of the Chaldeans； and he received the entire
dominions of his father； and appointed； that when the captives
came； they should be placed as colonies； in the most proper
places of Babylonia； but then he adorned the temple of Belus； and
the rest of the temples； in a magnificent manner； with the spoils
he had taken in the war。 He also added another city to that which
was there of old； and rebuilt it； that such as would besiege it
hereafter might no more turn the course of the river； and thereby
attack the city itself。 He therefore built three walls round
about the inner city； and three others about that which was the
outer； and this he did with burnt brick。 And after he had； after
a becoming manner； walled the city； and adorned its gates
gloriously； he built another palace before his father's palace；
but so that they joined to it； to describe whose vast height and
immense riches it would perhaps be too much for me to attempt；
yet as large and lofty as they were； they were completed in
fifteen days。 （22） He also erected elevated places for walking；
of stone； and made it resemble mountains； and built it so that it
might be planted with all sorts of trees。 He also erected what
was called a pensile paradise； because his wife was desirous to
have things like her own country； she having been bred up in the
palaces of Media。〃 Megasthenes also； in his fourth book of his
Accounts of India； makes mention。 of these things； and thereby
endeavors to show that this king ＇Nebuchadnezzar＇ exceeded
Hercules in fortitude； and in the greatness of his actions； for
he saith that he conquered a great part of Libya and Iberia。
Diocles also； in the second book of his Accounts of Persia；
mentions this king； as does Philostrates in his Accounts both of
India and of Phoenicia； say； that this king besieged Tyre
thirteen years； while at the same time Ethbaal reigned at Tyre。
These are all the histories that I have met with concerning this
king。
2。 But now； after the death of Nebuchadnezzar； Evil…Merodach his
son succeeded in the kingdom； who immediately set Jeconiah at
liberty； and esteemed him among his most intimate friends。 He
also gave him many presents； and made him honorable above the
rest of the kings that were in Babylon； for his father had not
kept his faith with Jeconiah； when he voluntarily delivered up
himself to him； with his wives and children； and his whole
kindred； for the sake of his country； that it might not be taken
by siege； and utterly destroyed； as we said before。 When
Evil…Mcrodach was dead； after a reign of eighteen years；
Niglissar his son took the government； and retained it forty
years； and then ended his life； and after him the succession in
the kingdom came to his son Labosordacus； who continued in it in
all but nine months； and when he was dead； it came to Baltasar；
（23） who by the Babylonians was called Naboandelus； against him
did Cyrus； the king of Persia； and Darius； the king of Media；
make war； and when he was besieged in Babylon； there happened a
wonderful and prodigious vision。 He was sat down at supper in a
large room； and there were a great many vessels of silver； such
as were made for royal entertainments； and he had with him his
concubines and his friends； whereupon he came to a resolution；
and commanded that those vessels of God which Nebuchadnezzar had
plundered out of Jerusalem； and had not made use of； but had put
them into his own temple； should be brought out of that temple。
He also grew so haughty as to proceed to use them in the midst of
his cups； drinking out of them； and blaspheming against God。 In
the mean time； he saw a hand proceed out of the wall； and writing
upon the wall certain syllables； at which sight； being disturbed；
he called the magicians and Chaldeans together； and all that sort
of men that are among these barbarians； and were able to
interpret signs and dreams； that they might explain the writing
to him。 But when the magicians said they could discover nothing；
nor did understand it； the king was in great disorder of mind；
and under great trouble at this surprising accident； so he caused
it to be proclaimed through all the country； and promised； that
to him who could explain the writing； and give the signification
couched therein； he would give him a golden chain for his neck；
and leave to wear a purple garment； as did the kings of Chaldea；
and would bestow on him the third part of his own dominions。 When
this proclamation was made； the magicians ran together more
earnestly； and were very ambitious to find out the importance of
the writing； but still hesitated about it as much as before。 Now
when the king's grandmother saw him cast down at this accident；
（24） she began to encourage him； and to say； that there was a
certain captive who came from Judea； a Jew by birth； but brought
away thence by Nebuchadnezzar when he had destroyed Jerusalem；
whose name was Daniel； a wise man； and one of great sagacity in
finding out what was impossible for others to discover； and what
w