A Study of the Book of Daniel

Berosus (Chaldean historian, quoted by Josephus): Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded in the kingdom by his son Evilmerodach, who reigned badly and was put to death by Neriglissor, the husband of his sister, after he had reigned two years. This Neriglissor succeeded him, and reigned four years. His son Laborosoarchod, being still a child, reigned after him nine months, and was murdered by his friends, because he gave many proofs of a bad character. His murderers by a general resolution transferred the government to Nabonnedus (Nabonidus), one of the Babylonians who belonged to the conspirators.

Under him the walls of Babylon along the river-banks were better built. But in the seventeenth year of his reign Cyrus came from Persia with a great army and took Babylon, after he had subjugated all the rest of Asia. Nobonnedus went out to encounter him, but was vanquished in battle, and fled with a few followers and shut himself up in Borsippa. But Cyrus, after he had taken Babylon and demolished its walls, marched against Borsippa and besieged Nabonnedus. But Nabonnedus would not hold out, and therefore surrendered himself. He was at first treated humanely by Cyrus, who removed him from Babylon, and gave him Carmania as a place of residence, where he spent the remainder of his days and died. (Commentary on the Book of Daniel, Keil and Delitzsch, 1866)

Keil and Delitsch, Ezekiel and Daniel pg 600: Herodotus and Xenophon describe [the last king of Babylon] as the kings son, while Nabonnedus, according to both of these Chaldean historians, was not of royal descent. Besides this, Xenophon states that the king lost his life at the taking of Babylon, while according to Berosus, on the contrary, he was not in Babylon at all, but was besieged in Borsippa, surrendered to Cyrus, and was banished to Carmania, or according to Abydenus, was made deputy of that province. Shall we then decide for Herodotus and Xenophon, and against Berosus and Abydenus?

Herodotus and Xenophon

Last king of Babylon =

Berosus and Abydenus

Last king of Babylon not

the kings son. King in Babylon at the time of Babylons fall. King was killed in Babylon

of royal birth. King not in Babylon, but in Borsippa. King exiled and died of natural causes.

"As for me, Nabonidus, king of Babylon, save me from sinning against your great godhead and grant me as a present a life long of days, and as for Belshazzar, the eldest son -my offspring- instill reverence for your great godhead in his heart and may he not commit any cultic mistake, may he be sated with a life of plenitude."

In the beginning of my everlasting reign they sent me a dream. Marduk, the great lord, and Sin, the luminary of heaven and the netherworld, stood together. Marduk spoke with me: 'Nabonidus, king of Babylon, carry bricks on your riding horse, rebuild Ehulhul and cause Sin, the great lord, to establish his residence in its midst.' Reverently, I spoke to the Enlil of the gods, Marduk: 'That temple which you ordered me to build, the Mede surrounds it and his might is excessive.' But Marduk spoke with me: 'The Mede whom you mentioned, he, his country and the kings who march at his side will be no more.'

when the third year was about to begin- he entrusted the army [?] to his oldest son, his first born, the troops in the country he ordered under his command. He let everything go, entrusted the kingship to him, and, himself, he started out for a long journey.

Herodotus and Xenophon

Last king of Babylon =

Berosus and Abydenus

Last king of Babylon not

the kings son. King in Babylon at the time of Babylons fall. King was killed in Babylon

of royal birth. King not in Babylon, but in Borsippa. King exiled and died of natural causes.

 The mystery of the writing does not seem to be in the

language or the characters, but in the meaning. The words can have more than one meaningwhich caused confusion.
1 Mene Tekel Peres/Parsin Numbered Weighed divided 2 Mina Shekel Half-shekel(s) Persians 3

Table : The Peoples Bible, Daniel by John C. Jeske