ANCIENT BABYLON. 17 three hundred fold, the ears both of wheat and barley being four fingers in breadth. The land, as in Egypt, was irrigated by canals, with trenches supplying water through the fields. The manner in which these small streams are ultimately distributed, is represented in the engraving on page 16; the channels of the small streams are opened or closed by the foot, so as to direct the water to the different parts of the garden in succession. This is the watering by the foot mentioned Deut. xi. 10, and elsewhere in the Bible. The fig, the vine, and the olive, were not cultivated, but the palm trees were abundant; these were useful for food and clothing, and even produced a sort of wine, in addition to the use that might be made of the wood. The situation of Babylon was very favourable for extensive commerce. Connected on the one hand with the Persian Gulf opening into the Indian Ocean, on the other with the Caspian and Euxine Seas, it was the central mart for all the nations of the civilized world. Here were brought into communication the inhabitants of the frozen north, and the dwellers on the shore of the Mediterranean, with the varied tribes of India, and those of the eastern extremities of Asia. The business of this vast and central mart collected persons from various parts of the globe; some were drawn thither to see its vast magnificence; some from a desire to partake in its licentiousness, which, from common historians as well as the pages of sacred writ, is shown to have been excessive. In some respects, the licentious proceedings were carried to most awful lengths. Babylon was also famed for its learning. The wide and open expanse of the unbroken horizon of the broad plain of Chaldea, with its unclouded sky and clear atmosphere, gave peculiar facilities for observing the heavenly bodies. The habitual observation of these luminaries early led to discoveries in astronomy; when one science is cultivated, and the mental powers 18 ANCIENT BABYLON. are enlarged, others speedily receive attention: Babylon thus became known as the abode of science. Philosophers and learned men resorted thither from other countries; the learning of the Chaldees was celebrated, even as that of Egypt had been at an earlier period; but this learning degenerated into folly and superstition. There is frequent mention in Scripture of the magicians and astrologers of Babylon. Astronomy was cultivated chiefly with a view to pry into futurity. The extent and folly of this falsely called learning is stated by the prophet Isaiah, xlvii. 11—13. Therefore shall evil come upon thee; Thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: Thou shalt not be able to put it off: And desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know. Stand now with thine enchantments, And with the multitude of thy sorceries, Wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; If so be thou shalt be able to profit, If so be thou mayest prevail. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. The monthly prognosticators, Stand up, and save thee From these things that shall come upon thee. In a subsequent chapter, we shall notice the present state of Babylon, or rather of its ruins now to be traced. THE JEWS AT BABYLON-PROPHECIES OF JEREMIAH -DANIEL, AND HIS COMPANIONS. Ir was the earnest desire of Nebuchadnezzar to render the vast city of Babylon magnificent and populous. He was therefore disposed to treat the captive Jews rather as colonists than as slaves, which rendered their situation favourable in some respects. Of this 20 THE JEWS AT BABYLON. they were commanded to avail themselves with thankfulness. It was better than the treatment experienced by their brethren of Israel in Assyria, recorded by Tobit, who relates the secrecy with which he was compelled to act, when burying one of his captive countrymen who had been wantonly murdered in the city where he dwelt. God also gave some among them such favour in the sight of the Chaldeans, that they were appointed to situations of trust and importance. About the middle of the captivity, Jehoiachin, who reigned in Judah before Zedekiah, was liberated and allowed to take his place among other kings, then detained at Babylon as hostages, or resorting thither to pay homage. The Jews had rulers among themselves, one of their royal family had the title of Prince of the Captivity. From the words of Jeremiah, xxxiv. 5, it appears that when Zedekiah died, the Jews were allowed to inter his remains in an honourable manner, according to their own customs. Josephus states this was done by Nebuchadnezzar; he probably supplied the means for rendering these honours. Still their situation was painful, and deeply humiliating in many respects. Accustomed to consider themselves as the favoured people of the Most High, they could not without pain reflect upon their situation, humbled, and subjected to strangers in a foreign land. Those among them who were really influenced by pious feelings, were deeply grieved to behold idolatry every where prevalent, and the idols considered as conquerors over the only living and true God. They might not be exposed to the same cruel sufferings as the early Israelitish captives already mentioned; but they were subjected to the scoffs of the heathen, and taunted for their peculiar faith. The painful state of feeling thus excited, is strongly expressed in the first portion of the 137th Psalm. Along the banks where Babel's current flows, Our captive bands in deep despondence stray'd, While Zion's fall in sad remembrance rose, Her friends, her children, mingled with the dead. |