ing in the midst of the flames, and the fourth was like the Son of God."

What the king did.

He was awe-struck; had the men instantly released; and made another decree that all his subjects should honour the God of the Hebrews. Nebuchadnezzar died a few months after, in the eighth year of his restoration, and 43rd of his reign.

When the king died.

He was succeeded by Evil-merodach, whose son, Belshazzar, was the last of the Chaldean kings.

Section II.

DANIEL AND BELSHAZZAR.

A.C. 555-552.

DANIEL V., VII.

Last king of

Babylon.

Belshazzar, the grandson of

Nebuchadnezzar, was the last king of Babylon, and reigned four years.

character.

Belshazzar's He was licentious, arrogant, and worthless; but his clever mother managed to keep the kingdom in order for a time.

What is known of Belshazzar.

Little is known of him beyond the impious feast which he made in the fourth year of his reign, in honour of Belus, his patron god. (B.c. 552.) What occurred Being heated with wine, the impious king swore he would quaff only from the goblets taken from the temple of Jerusalem.

at this feast.

His vaunt arrested.

The sacred vessels were brought in; but as he held one of them to his lips, he was panic-struck by the appearance of a bodiless hand, writing something on the opposite wall.

The command

he gave.

He instantly commanded his magicians to tell him what it meant, but they were unable so to do.

His mother's

suggestion.

His mother told him to send for Daniel; and the prophet instantly deciphered the meaning of the handwriting.

What was It was to this effect:

written.

God hath numbered, hath numbered thy days; Thou art weighed in the balance, and art found wanting;

Thy kingdom shall be given to the Medes and Persians. The fulfilment. Scarcely had the prophet left the royal presence, when Dari'us, the Mede, entered the palace with his army, killed the king, and took possession of the empire. (B.C. 552.)

SUPPLEMENT FOR SENIOR PUPILS.

THE MEDES.

Origin of MEDIA was originally a province of Media. Assyria, and continued so till the death of Sardanapa'lus. (B.c. 2229-748.)

occurred.

What then On the death of that king, the ancient empire of Assyria was divided into three parts: New Assyria, Media, and Babylonia. (B.c. 748.)

The most New Assyria soon became the most puissant. puissant of the three, and made the other two its tributaries; in which state they continued till the death of Esar-haddon.

What then befel them.

Then Nabopolassar, the Chaldæan, having induced the Babylonians to revolt, made them into an independent king

dom; to which Nebuchadnezzar, his son, added Media also.

How long it This state of things continued for remained so. about half a century; when Cyaxerés threw off the yoke of Babylon, and made Me'dia independent.

How long in- The new Median empire continued dependent. independent only for the three reigns of Cyaxĕrés, Astyagés, and Darius, surnamed the Mede; after which it was transferred by Cyrus to the Persian empire.

Who was its Darius, its last king, on the death of last king. Belshazzar, reigned over all Media, Persia, Assyria, and Babylon. (B.C. 552.)

The second king of Media, and father of Dari'us, was Asty'agés, whose daughter, Mandané, married Camby'ses, the Persian, of whom Cyrus was born.

Death of About seven years after this, Cyrus Darius. raised a large army to dethrone his uncle; but Darius, in the meantime, died. (B.C. 545.)

What change took place.

The vast Median empire was now called the Persian; and Persia be

came the seat of government.

of Persia.

Previous state Prior to this event, Persia was only a viceroyalty, or vassal kingdom, under the Median government; but from the time of Cyrus, it became the dominant power of the world.

Section III.

DANIEL AND DARIUS.

A.C. 551-544.

DANIEL VI.

Who was

Darius.

Darius was a Median king, who,

on the death of Belshazzar, made Babylon the capital of his empire.

His conduct

to Daniel.

He conceived a very high opinion of Daniel, made him one of his three presidents, and designed to "set him over the whole realm.'

The effect produced.

This preference to the Hebrew captive excited the jealousy of the Median nobles, who resolved to ruin their hated rival. (B.C. 550.)

How they

proceeded. Upon a professed desire to honour Darius, they proposed to pay him divine honours for 30 days.

Their plan. They went therefore to the king and said: "We wish to establish a decree, that if any man presume to offer prayer or petition for 30 days to