Palace of Susa
HERODOTUS.—Not far remote from the river Choaspes, in the district of Cissia, is Susa, where the Persian monarch occasionally resides, and where his treasures are deposited.—Herodt., 1. v., c. 49.
STRABO.—The palace of Susa was embellished more than all the rest, but the palaces at Persepolis and Passargadæ were held in equal honor and veneration with it.—Strab 1. xv., c. 3.
AUSTEN H. LAYARD, M. P.—These bas-reliefs (at Kouyunjik) record the conquest of the country of Susiana... In the same inscription a king of Armenia is also mentioned; and it would appear that the great men of that country were sent to the Assyrian monarch whilst in Susiana. Above the royal chariot was a row of trees, and beneath a procession of mace-bearers, and led horses richly caparisoned. A lower compartment contained a curious ground-plan of a city. It is seen from another inscription (in this bas-relief) that Su t or Shushan actually stood in a district of this name; and it is highly probable that we have here a representation of that city. Its position between two rivers well agrees with that of existing ruins generally believed to mark its site.—Nineveh and Babylon, p. 386.
Cup-Bearer
Nhm. 1:11—And prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cup-bearer.
HERODOTUS.—Cambyses professed the greatest regard for Prexaspes, who received all petitions to the king, and whose son enjoyed the honorable office of royal cup-bearer.—Herodt., 1. iii., c. 34.
XENOPHON.—Astyages said to Cyrus—Do you give nothing to this Sacian, your cup-bearer, whom I favor above all? This Sacian was a very beautiful person, and had the honor to introduce to Astyages any that had business with him, and was to hinder those whom he did not think it seasonable to introduce. —Cyropœdia, 1. i., c. 3.
JOSEPH BONOMI, F. R. S. L.—The Chamber of audience, at Khorsabad.—Upon the wall between the second corner and the passage of communication we have sixteen figures: near the opening the king attended by his cup-bearer and Selikdar, and before him seven officers of his court.... On the length of wall between the corner and the central entrance of the Divining Chamber there are twelve figures; the king, his right hand elevated and his left carrying a full-blown lotus and bud, is followed by his cup-bearer and Selikdar; in front are two persons, etc.—Nineveh and its Palaces, p. 184, 185.
IDEM.—The next slab (Nimroud) represents the return of the king from the chase. It is a perfect tableau de genre de haut ton, portraying the manners of the Assyrian court more than 2,500 years ago; resembling in so many points the present customs of the East, that it is truly remarkable how little change the lapse of time has effected.... Fully armed, the king stands in the center of the composition; his bow being still in his left hand, while with his right he raises to his lips the cup which he has just received from the hand of the cup-bearer. At his feet lies the subdued lion. He is followed by two beardless attendants, who have accompanied him in the chase.... Behind these are the king's bearded attendants.... All these we may fairly presume have accompanied the king in the chase, and have arrived with him at the entrance of his palace, where he is met by the officers of his household. In advance of these latter stands the royal cup-bearer, the sharbetgee of modern times. This functionary, having presented his lord with the prepared beverage, is occupied in dispersing the flies, which, in hot climates, assail with uncommon avidity all cool and sweetened fluids.—Nineveh and its Palaces, p. 253.
Beth-Zur
Nhm. 3:16.—The ruler of the half part of Beth-zur.
MR. GEORGE GROVE. —The recovery of the site of Beth-zur, under the almost identical name of Bea-Stir, by Wolcott and Robinson, explains its impregnability, and also the reason for the choice of its position, since it commands the road from Beersheba and Hebron, which has always been the main approach to Jerusalem from the south.—Smith's Dict. of the Bible, p. 300.
PROF. H. B. HACKETT, D. D., LL. D.—It shows how wonderfully the oldest names of the Bible have been preserved and transmitted to us that we find Halhul, Beth-zur, and Gedor grouped together in Josh. 15:58,58Halhul, Beth-zur, and Gedor, (Joshua 15:58) and the same places represented on the modern map as Halhul, Beitsûr, and Jedûr, in the immediate vicinity of each other.—Smith's Dict. of the Bible, p. Sot.
Derisive Expression
Nhm. 4:3.—Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
REV. JOSEPH ROBERTS.—When men (in the East) deride the workmanship of a mason, they say, "Che.! why, if a dog or a jackal run against that wall, it will fall."—"A wall! why it will not keep out the jackals."—Orient. Illust., p. 245.
Building under Arms
Nhm. 4:17, 18.—They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
REV. JOHN KITTO, D. D., F. S. A.—We have often had to notice circumstances in different parts of Asia of a similar description to those recorded by Nehemiah. In countries or districts liable to the visits of, or partly occupied by, Bedouins or Tartars; or where a settled population is divided into adverse clans or tribes; or where the principle of blood-revenge is in strong and extensive operation—under all these and other circumstances, the cultivators dare not pursue the labors of the field unarMed. We have seen men following the plow with guns slung to their backs and swords by their sides; or else these and other weapons were placed within reach, while they pursued such labors as kept them stationary. Sometimes also, but less frequently, we have observed men, armed with guns, swords, spears, clubs, and bucklers, keeping a watchful guard while their fellows pursued their important labors.—Pict. Bib., In loco.
Rapid Fortification
Nhm. 6:15.—So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
DR. ADAM CLARKE.—I see no difficulty in supposing that several thousand workmen, each of whom was working as for God, should be able to complete this wall in fifty-two days.... The work mentioned here was little when compared with what Caesar did in Gaul and other places; and to what Titus did at Jerusalem, who built a wall round that city of 5,000 paces in three days, besides thirteen towers of ten stadia in circuit. And Quintus Curtius and Arrian inform us that Alexander the Great built the walls of Alexandria, on the Tanais, which were nearly eight miles in compass, in the space of between twenty and thirty days.—Note, In loco.
God the Creator and Ruler of All
Nhm. 9:6.—Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are therein, the seas and all that is therein; and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
CLEANTHES.—Without thee nothing is done upon the earth, or in heaven; or in the depths of the sea, except alone those evil deeds of which an impious people are guilty.—Cleath. H. in Jovem.
PLUTARCH.—The glory of Plato enlightened the world, and his doctrine was generally received, both on account of his life and his subjecting the necessity of natural causes to a more powerful and Divine principle.—Plut. Nic., c. 23.
CICERO.—The gods are the supreme lords and governors of all things; all events are directed by their influence, and wisdom, and divine power.—De Leg., 1. ii., c. 7.
Return to Evil
Nhm. 9:28.—After they had rest they did evil again before thee.
JUVENAL.—Now we are suffering all the evils of long-continued peace. Luxury, more ruthless than war, broods over Rome, and exacts vengeance for a conquered world.—Sat. vi., v. 291.
CATULLUS.—Ease and idleness have destroyed both cities and citizens formerly prosperous.— Catull., 1. i.,. carm 51.
Sealed Documents
Nhm. 9:38.—And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes,. Levites, and priests, seat unto it.
AUSTEN H. LAYARD, M. P.—In a chamber, or passage in the southwest corner of the palace of Kouyunjik, were found a large number of pieces of fine clay bearing the impressions of seals, which there is no doubt, had been affixed, like modern official seals of wax, to documents written on leather, papyrus or parchment. Such documents, with seals in clay still attached, have been discovered in Egypt and specimens are preserved in the British Museum. The writings themselves had been consumed by the fire which destroyed the building or had perished from decay. In the stamped clay, however, may still be seen the holes for the string or strips of skin, by which the seal was fastened; in some instances the ashes of the string remain, with the marks of the finger and thumb. The greater part of these seals are Assyrian, but with them are others bearing Egyptian, Phoenician, and doubtful symbols and characters.—Nineveh and Babylon, p. 130.