Since the death of Evil-Merodach, and during the reign of his two
successors, Daniel had retired to private life, and was but little spoken
of at public places. This king, following in the footsteps of his
predecessors, led a life of dissipation and profligacy.
In the meantime, the fame of the Persian prince was spreading far and
wide. His armies proved victorious on every shore; and, to the faithful
Hebrews, who discerned the signs of the times, his conquests were hailed
with inward joy. Cyrus for some years had tarried in Asia Minor, and had
reduced all the nations that inhabited it to subjection, from the AEgean
Sea to the River Euphrates. Then he proceeded to Syria and Arabia, which
he also subdued.
The fortifications of Babylon, since the death of Nebuchadnezzar, had
been strengthened, and now the work of fortifying was carried on with
great vigor. Belshazzar, if from no other motive than fear, gave all
encouragement to this kind of improvement, and during his reign
prodigious works of this nature were completed.
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