(SUPPLEMENT TO NOTES ON )

Cecil N. Wright

  Attached to the above mentioned notes is a chart from THE ILLUSTRATED BIBLE DICTIONARY (1980) on which I had made various annotations. One, in the right hand column, begins: "one tradition reverses Cyaxares and Astyages, making the latter the father of both Cyaxares and Mandane, and Cyaxares the uncle instead of the grandfather of Cyrus." That was based upon what I have since discovered to be a faults remembrance of one of Whelsey’s Lectures published in the Millennial Harbinger of September 1830, on a history of the Medo-Persian Empire. I had not remembered that Whelsey gave the name of Cyaxares to two persons instead of one -- one the father and the other the son of Astyages. I had remembered what he said about the son, but applied it to the father. That made it needlessly and erroneously to conflict with the chart and the other annotations I had made on it. Whelsey had indeed made Astyages the father of both Mandane and Caxares II, but also the son of Cyaxares I.

  Had I remembered accurately, I would not only have made the annotation that "Mandane was married to Cambyses I, and became the mother of Cyrus the Great," but I would have added another that "Cyaxares = Darius the Mede = uncle of Cyrus II, the Great" -- in accord with Whelsey’s Lectures, and with the evidences and cautiously presented conclusion in my above mentioned notes, pages 5 b through 7a.

  Now that I realize my error and the enhanced credibility of Whelsey’s lecture, I am presenting parts of it, in order to set forth its account of a close relationship between Cyrus the Great and Darius the Mede, even after Cyrus of Persia threw off the Median yoke of Darius’ father, King Astyages. In order to make it easier to follow, introductory sub-heads will be supplied in capital letters. Also, occasional explanatory word or phrase may be inserted in brackets. Emphasis will also sometimes be supplied by use of capitals or underscoring, none of which occur in the original.

EXCERPTS FROM ONE OF WHELSEY’S LECTURES

1. MEDIA is not found on the map of modern Asia. Anciently it was an extensive empire, stretching round the southern and western shores of the Caspian Sea [with Ecbatana, modern Hamadan, as its capital]. Eastward lay what is called Tartary, or Central Asia. Persia bounded it South [with Susa, or Shusan, as its capital], and Assyria West [ with Nineveh as its capital]. [Babylonia also bounded its southern neighbor Persia on the west, with Babylon as its capital]. . . .

From the best light that can be thrown upon the subject, it appears that Media was peopled by Madai, the son of Japheth, son of Noah, soon after the dispersion [ from Babel]. It gradually grew into a considerable empire, and was finally subjugated by its more powerful neighbor, Assyria, and remained a territorial government for a long time. When the Assyrian Empire was dismembered under Sardanapalus (B.C. 710), Media became again independent. From this time to the commencement of the reign of Cyrus [the Persian], elapsed a period of 176 years, including a succession of five monarchs. Dijoces was the first king. He was succeeded by Phraortes, who reigned 22 years, and fell before Nineveh, in attempting to avenge his father’s death.

His son, Cyaxares [founder of the Median Empire], resumed the hereditary contest, and after a series of various fortune, in concert with Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieged Nineveh, took it, and leveled with the earth that towering monument of human perseverance and glory. Afterwards he carried his victorious arms South as far as Egypt, conquered Persia, and returned to Ecbactania [sic] laden with immense spoils, and attended by captive monarchs.

Under this monarch Media became settled in its permanent and powerful empire. Cyaxares, after a reign of 40 years, left his throne to his son Astyages, who is called in scripture Ahasuerus. Astyages gave his daughter Mandane in marriage to Cambyses, a king . . . of Persia. The fruit of this marriage was the illustrious Cyrus, the most faultless prince that ancient history can boast.

PERSIA: Directly south of Media lay an extensive range of territory known in ancient and modern geographies by the name of Persia [now called Iran, which also embraces what once was Media]. It was bounded East by India, south by the Assyrian Empires [more appropriately described as bounded on the South by the Persian Gulf and on the West by the Assyrian empires], extending upwards of 1,800 miles in length, and 1,000 in breadth [which is descriptive of its extent as an empire after its overthrow of Babylon 9536 B.C.) and the acquisition of all the vast domains the latter ruled].

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We are told in scripture that Persia, or Paras, as it is called by Daniel, was anciently called Elam; and that it was peopled by Elam, the son of Shem, about the time that Media was peopled by Madai, at the dispersion [from Babel].

At the time of Abraham, we find Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, or Persia, aconsiderable monarch in his day, having conquered several kingdoms of Asia. From this period their authentic history is lost. They probably were subjugated by the Assyrians, who carried all before them, and remained a long time subject. They afterwards recovered their freedom; but were soon obliged to resign it again to the Medes, as I have already noticed, and remained tributary to them, through their native monarchs, to the time of Cyrus. Cambyses, of the royal family of Achamenaus, married Mandane, the daughter of Astyages, King of Media, and became the father of Cyrus, who was born to free his native country from slavery [to the Medes, the rule of whose king, Astyages, was harsh and he was unpopular even among the Medes], to restore the captivity of Jerusalem, and to establish one of the most powerful empires that ever existed in Asia.

  II. CYRUS was born in the year before Christ 599. At 12 years of age he accompanied his mother Mandane to the court of Media. Astyages was soon charmed with the promising appearance of his grandson, insomuch that he retained him in Media, where he remained four or five years. The young plant . . . promised to become a mighty cedar. The affability of his temper, the simplicity of his deportment, the sincerity of his heart, and above all, the prowess of his arm, excited the admiration of the court, the camp and the hall. The Medes, both noble and ignoble, proved by their attachment that Cyrus was fully deserving, if not destined, to wear the crown [which ultimately he did, even over them , with the assistance of a part of their own army].

At 17 years old he returned to his father’s court, followed by the affectionate blessing of the Medes, and welcomed with enthusiasm by his native Persians. In the inconsiderable wars which were at times waged with neighboring nations, Cyrus was always victorious, always generously rewarded the brave, always mercifully spared the conquered. As his father Cambyses advanced in age, he gradually associated Cyrus with him in the government, the burden of which he was obliged to bear. Thus he lived till he was 40 years old. But the prime of his life was not uselessly wasted; a new era in the military tactics of Persia began with him. A course of discipline was established which, in a short time, rendered the Persians the best soldiers in Asia. The arts of peace were cultivated, civilization rapidly advance, and this barbarous, enslaved, and unimportant people, under the transforming genius of Cyrus, suddenly became so formidable that they were accused by their neighbors as already aspiring to the dominion of Asia.

CYRUS AND CYAXARES: Astayages, the king of Media, [after being deposed by Persia], died, and left his dominions to his son, Cyaxares [whom we may call Cyaxares II], who was but one year older than Cyrus [with whom a close friendship and rapport must have developed during the years Cyrus was in the court at Ecbatana, and seemingly continued ever after notwithstanding he deposed Astyages]. Neriglissar, the king of Babylon, . . . thought the death of Astyages a favorable crisis to aim an exterminating stroke at the growing power of Media, levied an immense army of 250,000 men from the populous regions West of the Euphrates, and placed himself at their head. Cyaxares II having lately assumed the reins of government [evidently with the approval and blessings of Cyrus], was justly alarmed at their extensive preparations, which threatened not only to rob him of crown and empire, but suddenly to extinguish his flattering expectations the Media would rise to the empire of Asia [which he evidently thought could be done in concert with Persia]. Unterrified, however, by the awful crisis, he rapidly concentrated his forces, with the resolution of extreme resistance, and sent for aid unto Persia, with the express demand that Cyrus should be invested with the command of the auxiliaries.

The demand met with prompt compliancy. From the peculiar manner in which Cyrus levied his army, we may suppose his comprehensive genius already embraced, that vast scheme of conquest he afterwards executed . . . . When all were marshalled, they amounted to 31,000. An army thus appointed, might well be capable of great achievements.

At the head of this body Cyrus joined his uncle Cyaxares, already preparing to march. In joint command they moved towards the borders of Assyria, after Cyrus had reduced the king of Armenia, from a revolt, obtained in the father an immovable ally, and in the son, the interesting Tigranes, a bosom friend.

Neriglissar, the king of Babylon, having concentrated an immense force of 200,000 foot and 60,000 horse, advanced toward Media and met the Medes and Persians, of not half their number, not far from the boundaries of the two empires. A general battle was fought, and Cyrus was completely victorious. For although Cyaxares had an equal command, yet the masterly genius of Cyrus demanded and obtained the undivided honor of the laurel.

The unfortunate king of Babylon was slain, . . . and his camp abandoned to the Medes and Persians. . . The throne of Babylon was immediately filled by Laborosoarchod, whose cruelties, in a few months, urged his subjects to seek a last redress, by sacrificing him to their vengeance. . . . Belshazzar [son and co-regent of Nabonidus, who was absent most of the time, leaving the burden of governing to his son] was crowned in his stead. . . .

In the meantime a vigorous plan of operations was pursued by Cyrus in reducing the strongholds of the Assyrians, and gradually preparing an unobstructed march to Babylon. . . . . the famous battle of Thymbra . . . established his fame as the first warrior upon the theatre of the world. This battle decided the fate of Lesser Asia. Cyrus pursued his fortune: Arabia and Syria successfully fell before him, till at length, the great Babylon stood alone upon the banks of the Euphrates, and frowned upon the conqueror, angry at his past success, and defying his future attempts.

  He encamped before the city, and commenced a regular siege. . . . At some distance from the city, there were immense reservoirs, dug for the purpose of receiving the redundant water of the Euphrates, and of preventing the fatal effects of occasional inundations. Several canals formed a communication between these reservoirs and the river. By opening these canals, the water might easily be turned from its natural course, the bed of the river left dry, and a free passage into the heart of the city laid open.

  The public festivals of the Babylonians were generally celebrated with the most extravagant riot, drunkenness, and debauchery, and frequently continued several days without intermission. Cyrus chose the night preceding one of these festivals for the execution of his plan. .

  While Cyrus was taking undisputed possession of the city, [God interrupted the drinking and revelry of Belshazzar and the lords and ladies of his realm with a supernatural handwriting on the wall, interpreted for him by Daniel as meaning Belshazzar was weighed in the balances and found wanting, and his kingdom divided and given to the Medes and Persians].

  Cyrus was already at the gates of the palace. The alarm was sounded, and the impious Belshazzar, rushing from the hall, sword in hand, was met by the Persians, and instantly cut to pieces, with all his attendants. . . . .

  The death of Belshazzar . . . put a period to the second Assyrian Empire, B.C. 536. The reduction of Babylon was followed by the submission of all the Assyrian territories, and the empire of Cyrus was bounded North by the Caspian and Black seas, East by India, South by the Arabian Sea [Persian Gulf] and Ethiopia, and West by Lybia, the Mediterranean, and Archipelago; comprehending Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, Arabia, Assyria, Armenia, Media, and Persia; . . . . . Cyrus and Cyaxares, or, as he is called in Scripture, Darius the Mede, in a short time established the government on an immovable basis. They divided the empire into 120 provinces, according to the prophet, and appointed satraps, or governors over them. . . .

  CYRUS ALONE: Two years after the fall of Babylon, Cyaxares, the uncle, and Cambyses, the father of Cyrus, died, and he was left sole master of the new empire, B.C. 534.

FURTHER NOTES ON DARIUS THE MEDE

 1. JOSEPHUS: ". . . but when Babylon was taken by Darius, and when he, with his kinsman Cyrus, had put an end to the dominion of the Babylonians, he was sixty-two years old. He was the son of Astyages, and had another name among the Greeks." (Ant.X,11,4.)

  2. PULPIT COMMENTARY: "The theory that has received the largest amount of support among those who maintain the ancient date for Daniel is that Darius the Mede is Cyaxares II" -- hence, son of Astyages and uncle of Cyrus.

  "We know that ‘Gobaru,’ or ‘Oybaru’ -- ‘Gobryas’ in Greek -- was appointed governor by Cyrus when he conquered Babylon, and that, in the script of the Sindschirli monuments, Gobryas, ________ or ______________, is not unlike Darius, ___________." NOTE: Blanks are substituted for script that cannot be duplicated with our equipment.

  3. INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPEDIA (quoted with out the use of quotation marks): Darius the Mede (Dan.6:1; 11:1) was son of Ahasuerus (Xerxes) of the seed of the Medes (Dan.9:1). He received the government of Belshazzar the Chaldean upon the death of that prince (Dan.5:30-31; 6:1), and was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans.

 From Dan.6:28 we may infer that Darius was king contemporaneously with Cyrus. Outside the book of Daniel there is no mention of Darius the Mede by name, though there are good reasons for identifying him with Gubaru, or Ugbaru, the governor of Gutium, who is said in the Nabunaid-Cyrus Chronicle to have been appointed by Cyrus as governor of Babylon after its capture from the Chaldeans.

  (a) Gubaru is possibly a translation of Darius. The same radical letters in Arabic mean "king," "compeller," "restrainer." In Hebrew, derivations of the root mean "lord," "mistress," "queen": in Aramaic, "mighty," "almighty."

  (b) Gutium was a country north of Babylon and was in all possibility in the time of Cyrus a part of the province of Media.

  (c) But even if Gutium were not a part of Media at that time, it was the custom of Persian kings to appoint Medes as well as Persians to satrapies and to the command of armies. Hence Darius -Gubaru may have been a Mede, even if Gutium were not part of Media proper.

  (d) Since Daniel never calls Darius the Mede king of Media, it is immaterial what his title or position may have been before he was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans. Since the realm of the Chaldeans never included either Media or Persia, there is absolutely no evidence in the Book of Daniel that its author ever meant to imply that Darius the Mede ever ruled [or had not ruled] over either Media or Persia. [He simply said nothing about his antecedents except that he was a Mede, but made it clear that he was a prominent personage in the partnership of the Medes and Persians.]

  (e) That Gubaru is called governor (pihatu), and Darius the Mede, king, is no objection to his identification; for in ancient as well as modern oriental empires the governors of provinces and cities were often call kings. Moreover, in the Aramaic language, no more appropriate word than "king" can be found to designate the ruler of a sub-kingdom, or province of the empire.

  (f) That Darius is said to have had 120 satraps under him does not conflict with this; for the Persian word "satrap" is indefinite, just like the English word "governor." Besides, Gubaru is said to have appointed pihatus under himself. If the kingdom of the Chaldeans which he received was as large as that of Sargon [722-705 B.C., "king of Assyria" (Isaiah20:1] he may easily have appointed 120 of these sub-rulers; for Sargon names 117 subject cities and countries over which he appointed his prefects and governors.

  (g) The peoples, nations and tongues of chapter 6 are no objection to this identification; for Babylonia itself at this time was inhabited by Chaldeans, Arabians, Arameans and Jews, and the kingdom of the Chaldeans embraced also the Assyrians, Elamites, Phoenicians and others within its limits.

  (h) This identification is supported further by the fact that there is no other person known to history that can well be meant. Some, indeed, have thought that Darius the Mede was a reflection into the past of Darius Hystaspis; but this is rendered impossible inasmuch as the character, deeds and empire of Darius Histaspis, which are well known to us from his own monuments and from the Greek historians, do not resemble what Daniel says of Darius the Mede.

 [End of quotation from International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.]

  CLOSING OBSERVATION; Whether Gutium was or was not a part of Media, and Darius-Gubaru being governor of it, would not necessarily be affected by his father Astyages having left all his dominions to him at his death. If it was a part, it would have remained such. If no, the other dominions would simply have been in addition to it. But its proximity to Babylon and its former importance in the history of that area would have been good reason for its mention in the secular Nabunaid-Cyrus Chronicle.

POST SCRIPT

Attached is one more page with a chart from THE ILLUSTRATED BIBLE DICTIONARY (1980), with amended annotations. They represent pretty much what would have been said in the original annotations had it not been for a faulty remembrance of one of Whelsey’s Lectures published in the Millennial Harbinger of September 1830, on a history of the Medo-Persian Empire.

PHYLOLOGICAL NOTE ON XERXES AND AHASUERUS

The spelling Xerxes is an attempt to transliterate into Greek, and from that into English, the Persian word Khshayarsha. The same word in Hebrew took a form that finally was vocalized so as to produce Ahashawerosh, and to be rendered in English as Ahasuerus. The Hebrew word, and presumably the Persian, is said to have meant "king." It could be used either as a name or a title. It is used in the Book of Esther with another Hebrew word meaning king or counselor, so that we have the expression "king Ahasuerus" (1;2,9,16,19; 2:1,12,16,21; 3:1,6,7,8,12; 6:2; 7:5; 8:1,7,10,12; 9:2,20,30; 10:1,3).