THE CHALDEAN EMPIRE IN BABYLONIA.
We have found frequent mention of the Chaldeans, and it is now necessary
to understand just what was their position at the fall of Nineveh.
The Chaldeans belonged to the Semitic race and their home had long been
in the Sea-lands, which included districts in eastern Arabia as well as
lands in Babylonia washed by the Persian Gulf. Originally a pastoral
people, they had taken to trade and though long in Babylonia, they had
not mingled greatly with others. They looked with envious eyes upon the
fertile valley of the Euphrates and coveted the wealth of its cities. On
this account they would willingly follow any leader who might enable
them to gain these lands and riches for themselves. Because such a
victory would unquestionably give kingship over the people, many of
their princes made efforts to gain political control, causing no end of
trouble to the Babylonian or Assyrian officials in charge of maintaining
the peace. This makes clear the motive prompting the numerous attempts
to usurp the government, already noted.
The old Babylonians had received so many infusions of blood from the
Elamites, Kassites, and colonists settled in their territory by
different Assyrian rulers, that the pure Babylonian stock no longer
existed to any extent, although Babylonian ideas, culture and
characteristics had been absorbed by those who came to dwell in the
land. The empire which now grew up in the valley was essentially
Chaldean. It has been called the New Empire of Babylonia.
Upon the death of Asshur-banipal, he who had previously been king-regent
asserted himself as king of Babylonia, and so Nabopolassar has sometimes
been called the founder of the New Chaldean Empire, although in truth he
was merely one who declared Babylonian independence at a time when none
were strong enough to dispute the claim. The empire, established in this
way, followed Babylonian precedence in all matters. The kings concerned
themselves with war only when compelled to do so, their works being
works of peace--the building of temples, the construction of canals.
One foreign war of some importance occurred during the first reign--the
reign of Nabopolassar. Necho II., pharaoh of Egypt, desired to regain
those Asiatic possessions which Thothmes III. and later warrior kings
had won for the Nile kingdom. To this end he led an army north,
demanding the submission of the sea-coast towns. Gaza was quickly won,
and this city was key to the east. Tyre and Sidon would pay tribute to
any nation rather than have their commerce again destroyed by war. Judah
alone resisted. Too long had this little country held out against a
various enemy to yield tribute upon demand. Josiah was now Judah's king.
He led an army against the Egyptian forces but was repulsed and he
himself killed. In confusion the Hebrew army fled to Jerusalem where a
younger brother of Josiah was proclaimed king. The Egyptian pharaoh now
collected a heavy fine from the people of Judah and he named a king for
them in place of the one just popularly crowned.
The old Assyrian empire, so long the fear of all nations, was now under
control of three distinct peoples: the Chaldeans held the Euphrates
valley, the Medes held the north, and Egypt had appropriated western
Syria. Now the pharaoh determined to further extend his empire. He would
reach the very banks of the Euphrates. This plan threatened the Chaldean
state, and Nabopolassar being too old to undertake active service in the
field, sent his son Nebuchadnezzar to meet the Egyptian force. This was
soon put to flight. The Babylonian prince pursued and had not word come
of the death of the king, his father, the Babylonian army would have
been able to march victorious into Egypt. It was, however, more
important to hold the kingdom at home than to pursue fleeing troops
abroad, so the prince went home to be crowned Nebuchadnezzar II., king
of Babylonian, and to enjoy one of the longest reigns in Babylonian
history. The city of Babylon became his pride, and the erection of
temples and palaces attracted him more than conquests.
Notwithstanding, the kingdom of Judah compelled attention by refusing
after three years' peace to longer pay tribute. The war-party in this
little state seems often to have been strong and always to have been
eager for independence, while its adherents were generally so blinded by
their own enthusiasm that they were unable to estimate correctly their
probable chance for success. Isaiah had long been dead. Jeremiah held
his place of influence and he labored diligently to show his people the
folly of their intent. He succeeded only in drawing censure upon himself
and in 597 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar sent an army to besiege Jerusalem. The
Judean king Jehoiakim, suddenly died, and a youth about eighteen years
of age ascended the throne. He thought best to surrender, whereupon he,
his mother and court, were taken as captives to Babylon, together with
7,000 soldiers and 1,000 artisans. The remainder of the inhabitants were
left to pay tribute and remain subservient to Babylonian rule.
In Egypt, Hophra had come to the throne. Like his predecessor, he longed
for Syrian possessions, and now tried to stir up the sea-coast states to
rebellion. No folly could have been plainer--for Judah it meant
destruction itself to set its strength against the forces of Babylonia.
Jeremiah thundered his bitterest reproaches. He sought vainly to bring
his countrymen to their senses and save them from utter ruin. But the
spirit of rebellion was abroad, and many times it has spread similarly
through a land, drawing to its cause voices seldom heard, and kindling a
desire which cannot be put down by cool argument and reason. So Jeremiah
continued to grow in disfavor, and was finally held a prisoner by those
he tried to aid.
It has been pointed out with much force that the stricken nation of
Judah had become the prey of neighboring tribes and that an insufferable
situation impelled it to war, but Babylonia could alone protect it, and
Babylonian protection was not to be won by rebellion against its rule.
Egypt was to again prove the "bruised reed" which would fail utterly
when leaned upon.
From the Babylonian standpoint the situation was this: here was a little
state which for hundreds of years had been the center of western
dissensions. Its revolts had already cost Babylonia and Assyria dear in
fighting men and tiresome sieges, and now it must be forever quelled if
attention was to be given to home affairs. Crippling its strength would
not avail, for that had been already tried. Trusting to the vows of its
kings was manifestly useless, since the king who led the revolt had
sworn by his mighty God to be faithful to Babylon. That solemn pledge he
had now broken. Nothing short of laying waste the land and scattering
the people would apparently put an end to the trouble.
Moab, Ammon, Tyre and Sidon were now in league with Judah and Egyptian
aid was promised. The war party in Jerusalem went about shouting that
Jehovah was with them--no matter, seemingly, what folly they undertook.
In 587 B.C. the Babylonian army besieged Jerusalem, intending to starve
the city into submission. The siege was raised when Egyptian
reinforcements drew near, long enough to defeat them and send them home
in confusion. Then it went on again. In 586 B.C. the Babylonians broke
through the walls of Jerusalem and the city was destroyed. The king who
had broken faith was taken to Babylon and blinded, while his sons were
slain. Such punishments as these had not been common with the old
Babylonians, and they show that the Chaldeans were not of the ancient
temperament,--merciful and kind. The best citizens of Jerusalem were
taken captives, while the poorer ones were left to cultivate the soil.
The great prophet Jeremiah was thought to be friendly to the government
of Babylon, and was given permission to go where he would. He remained
with the stricken band of Hebrews, who soon after journeyed into Egypt.
Tyre, as an ally, was besieged but here the problem of cutting the city
off from outside communication again arose. The siege lasted for
thirteen years and in the end the city paid tribute. In 567 B.C.
Nebuchadnezzar's army invaded Egypt, but it was merely a raid to
terrorize the Egyptians and put an end to Egyptian interference.
The king was now free to give his energy to internal affairs, and his
attention was chiefly centered in building and beautifying Babylon.
Notable among his undertakings were the walls of the city--counted among
the seven wonders of the world. They were so well constructed that had
they been defended, the city could never have been taken save by
treachery inside the capital itself. In 562 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar
died--the last great king of an ancient nation.
Of the following reign little is known, the king being assassinated in
the second year of his rule. Two other uneventful reigns followed, and
then Nabonidus ascended the throne. This man was a student--not a king.
He did one good service for future ages; being devoted to rebuilding the
temples of the gods, he had his workmen excavate deep down into the old
foundations of the temple of the sun-god in Sippar, which he says had
not been seen for 3200 years, for the record-tablet, always placed in
the corner. Then he caused a new tablet to be inserted, repeating the
history of the temple and enumerating his repairs. Modern excavators
have been greatly aided by these tablets of Nabonidus. While he was thus
absorbed, his country was fast plunging on to ruin. His was an age when
the mere existence of a nation depended upon its aggressive policy.
While the entire resources of the country were being expended upon
shrines sacred to the gods, there was neither time nor money for the
maintenance of an army. Matters were allowed to take their own course
for awhile, and later the king's son, Belshar-usur, or Belshazzar, was
left to manage government concerns. For this reason, the Hebrews
recorded him as the last Babylonian king, while in truth his father bore
the kingly title.
Even when danger threatened the state to such an extent that the
scholar-king himself, poking around among his ancient record-tablets,
was finally forced to take notice of it, he gave no thought to his
kingdom or his subjects, but was simply alarmed for the safety of his
statue-deities. These he had hurried into the capital from all parts of
the land. So occupied was he lest perchance a god or two might some way
escape him, that he had no time to prepare the city for attack, and in
the end Babylon, the pride of its age, came into the hands of the
conqueror without a blow!
The fact was that there were many within the kingdom who would gladly
welcome outside interference. The Hebrews had settled down in their
quarter and had become the leading people of commerce and loaners of
money. One commercial firm alone--Egibi & Sons--filled a place for that
age not unlike the modern Rothschilds. These people, who may have been
of Jewish descent, hated the king who had destroyed their city of
Jerusalem and his descendants, and would willingly help any one who
might rob Babylonian kings of their empire. It has been surmised that
for aid rendered they were allowed to go back to their own country and
rebuild Jerusalem on its early site.
Not only were the Hebrews an element to be reckoned with; the priests of
the Babylonian gods had been repeatedly offended by Nabonidus, and they
too joined the opposition, beyond doubt.
So great a city as Babylon had never before existed. No city since has
had so long a history, and yet, without a blow struck in its defense, it
passed into the possession of a people just taking on the ways of
civilized life. It was little wonder that it fell shortly into ruins,
soon to be grass-covered and like Nineveh, forgotten!
Since 606 B.C. the Medes, conquerors of Assyria, had been extending
their territory. They were now a people of strength, united under King
Astyages.
In the land earlier called Elam, now Persia, a great conqueror
appeared--Cyrus the Great. He defeated the Medes under Astyages, and so
rapidly did his empire come into being, that all civilized nations were
roused to the danger of a world-conqueror. In 546 B.C. Egypt, Babylonia,
Lydia and Sparta arrayed their forces against Cyrus, to check his power,
but his camels put their cavalry to flight, and he won the decisive
battle. Having annexed Asia Minor, he turned to Babylon. As we have
seen, the city of Babylon might have held out indefinitely against
attack, but when Belshazzar led an army against a detachment of Persian
troops, none were left to defend the capital. The old tale of Herodotus
that Cyrus turned the Euphrates out of its course and entered the city
through its channel, is mere fiction. Such exertion was unnecessary, for
the city gates swung open wide to the conqueror.
And thus we come to the end of the political history of the
Tigris-Euphrates states--a mere skeleton of framework, which we can now
fill out with some account of their social, industrial and religious
life.
[Illustration: ASSYRIAN PALACE AT NINEVEH.]