“And Babylon, the glory of the kingdoms, Shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, Neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; Neither shall shepherds make their fold there; But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there, And owls shall dwell there, And satyrs shall dance there, And wild beasts of the islands Shall cry in their desolate houses; Her days shall not be prolonged.” FOOTNOTES [1] The chief god of Babylon, properly named Bel-Marduk, was often called indifferently simply Bel or Marduk. [2] Twenty per cent annually. [3] Such copy-books have been actually preserved to us. [4] The _gur_ was about eight bushels. [5] The Babylonians observed a seventh day as sacred, much after the Jewish fashion. It was likewise called “The Sabbath.” [6] Often, though incorrectly, written “Zoroaster.” [7] The Persian “hell,” conceived of as in the extreme north; a land of pitiless cold. [8] Sirius. [9] Ten P.M. [10] Saturn. [11] About three bushel. NOTE TO THE READER The author has not been unmindful that certain record tablets give a narrative of the capture of Babylon, in some points differing from the Bible account in the Book of Daniel. The reasons for preferring the latter to the profane narrative are too many to be discussed here; but it is not improper to point out that the “Chronicle Tablets” were written with a political end to serve,—to soothe the feelings of the conquered Babylonians, by representing that Babylon surrendered voluntarily to Cyrus. This is hardly likely; but it is very probable that the city was taken by treachery among the priests and not by assault. I have ventured to give the name of Isaiah to the great “Prophet of the Captivity,” whose writings are found in the last half of our present “Book of Isaiah.” It has been well conjectured that his name was also Isaiah, which resulted in the combining of the two independent prophecies into one book. VALUE OF MONEY (according to Sayce) Shekel $ 0.75 Maneh 45.00 Talent (silver) 2700.00 Gold was worth ten times as much as silver, weight for weight.