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of the kings of Persia at this tower； or those perhaps of the
same sort that are now commonly called the ruins of Persepolis；
continued so entire and unaltered in his days； as if they were
lately put there； 〃I （says Reland） here can show to be true； as
to those stones of the Persian mansoleum； which Com。 Brunius
brake off and gave me。〃 He ascribed this to the hardness of the
stones； which scarcely yields to iron tools； and proves
frequently too hard for cutting by the chisel； but oftentimes
breaks it to pieces。
BOOK 11 FOOTNOTES
（1） This Cyrus is called God's shepherd by Xenophon； as well as
by Isaiah； Isaiah 44：28； as also it is said of him by the same
prophet； that 〃I will make a man more precious than fine gold；
even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir；〃 Isaiah 13：12； which
character makes Xenophon's most excellent history of him very
credible。
（2） This leave to build Jerusalem； sect。 3； and this epistle of
Cyrus to Sisinnes and Sathrabuzanes； to the same purpose； are
most unfortunately omitted in all our copies but this best and
completest copy of Josephus； and by such omission the famous
prophecy of Isaiah； Isaiah 44：28； where we are informed that God
said of or to Cyrus； 〃He is my shepherd； and shall perform all my
pleasure； even saying to Jerusalem； Thou shalt be built； and to
the temple； Thy foundation shall be laid；〃 could not hitherto be
demonstrated from the sacred history to have been completely
fulfilled； I mean as to that part of it which concerned his
giving leave or commission for rebuilding the city Jerusalem as
distinct from the temple； whose rebuilding is alone permitted or
directed in the decree of Cyrus in all our copies。
（3） Of the true number of golden and silver vessels here and
elsewhere belonging to the temple of Solomon； see the description
of the temples； chap。 13。
（4） Josephus here follows Herodotus； and those that related how
Cyrus made war with the Scythians and Massagets； near the Caspian
Sea； and perished in it； while Xenophon's account； which appears
never to have been seen by Josephus； that Cyrus died in peace in
his own country of Persia； is attested to by the writers of the
affairs of Alexander the Great； when they agree that he found
Cyrus's sepulcher at Pasargadae； near Persepolis。 This account of
Xenophon is also confirmed by the circumstances of Cambyses； upon
his succession to Cyrus； who； instead of a war to avenge his
father's death upon the Scythians and Massagets； and to prevent
those nations from overrunning his northern provinces； which
would have been the natural consequence of his father's ill
success and death there； went immediately to an Egyptian war；
long ago begun by Cyrus； according to Xenophon； p。 644； and
conquered that kingdom； nor is there； that I ever heard of； the
least mention in the reign of Cambyses of any war against the
Scythians and Massagets that he was ever engaged in all his life。
（5） The reader is to note； that although the speeches or papers
of these three of the king's guard are much the same； in our
Third Book of Esdras； ch。 3。 and 4。； as they are here in
Josephus； yet that the introduction of them is entirely
different； while in our Esdras the whole is related as the
contrivance of the three of the king's guards themselves； and
even the mighty rewards are spoken of as proposed by themselves；
and the speeches are related to have been delivered by themselves
to the king in writing； while all is contrary in Josephus。 I need
not say whose account is the most probable； the matters speak for
themselves； and there can be no doubt but Josephus's history is
here to be very much preferred before the other。 Nor indeed does
it seem to me at all unlikely that the whole was a contrivance of
king Darius's own； in order to be decently and inoffensively put
in mind by Zorobabel of fulfilling his old vow for the rebuilding
of Jerusalem and the temple； and the restoration of the worship
of the 〃one true God〃 there。 Nor does the full meaning of
Zorobabel； when he cries out； 3 Esd。 4。 41）； 〃Blessed be the God
of truth ；〃 and here； 〃God is true and righteous；〃 or even of all
the people； 3 Esd。 4。 41； 〃Great is truth； and mighty above all
things ；〃 seem to me much different from this； 〃There is but one
true God； the God of Israel。〃 To which doctrine； such as Cyrus
and Darius； etc。； the Jews' great patrons； seem not to have been
very averse； though the entire idolatry of their kingdoms made
them generally conceal it。
（6） This strange reading in Josephus's present copies of four
millions instead of forty thousand； is one of the grossest errors
that is in them； and ought to be corrected from Ezra 2：61； 1 Esd。
5：40； and Nehemiah 7：66； who all agree the general sum was but
about forty…two thousand three hundred and sixty。 It is also very
plain that Josephus thought； that when Esdras afterwards brought
up another company out of Babylon and Persia； in the days of
Xerxes； they were also； as well as these； out of the two tribes；
and out of them only； and were in all no more than 〃a seed〃 and
〃a remnant；〃 while an 〃immense number〃 of the ten tribes never
returned； but； as he believed； continued then beyond Euphrates；
ch。 5。 sect。 2； 3； of which multitude； the Jews beyond Euphrates；
he speaks frequently elsewhere； though； by the way； he never
takes them to be idolaters； but looks on them still as observers
of the laws of Moses。 The 〃certain part〃 of the people that now
came up from Babylon； at the end of this chapter； imply the same
smaller number of Jews that now came up； and will no way agree
with the four millions。
（7） The history contained in this section is entirely wanting in
all our other copies； both of Ezra and Esdras。
（8） Dr。 Hudson takes notice here； that this kind of brass or
copper； or rather mixture of gold and brass or copper； was called
aurichalcum； and that this was of old esteemed the most precious
of all metals。
（9） This procedure of Esdras； and of the best part of the Jewish
nation； after their return from the Babylonish captivity； of
reducing the Jewish marriages； once for all； to the strictness of
the law of Moses； without any regard to the greatness of those
who had broken it； and without regard to that natural affection
or compassion for their heathen wives； and their children by
them； which made it so hard for Esdras to correct it； deserves
greatly to be observed and imitated in all attempts for
reformation among Christians； the contrary conduct having ever
been the bane of true religion； both among Jews and Christians；
while political views； or human passions； or prudential motives；
are suffered to take place instead of the Divine laws； and so the
blessing of God is forfeited； and the church still suffered to
continue corrupt from one generation to another。 See ch。 8。 sect。
2。
（10） This Jewish feast of tabernacles was imitated in several
heathen solemnities； as Spanheim here observes and proves。 He
also further observes presently； what great regard many heathens
had to the monuments of their forefathers； as Nehemiah had here；
sect。 6。
（11） This rule of Esdras； not to fast on a festival day； is
quoted in the Apostolical Cons