346
Prophets and Kings
their triumphant shouts could be heard above the despairing cries of
the astonished revelers.
“In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain,” and
an alien monarch sat upon the throne.
Clearly had the Hebrew prophets spoken concerning the manner
in which Babylon should fall. As in vision God had revealed to them
the events of the future, they had exclaimed: “How is Sheshach taken!
and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon
become an astonishment among the nations!” “How is the hammer of
the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a
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desolation among the nations!” “At the noise of the taking of Babylon
the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.”
“Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed.” “The spoiler is come
upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, every
one of their bows is broken: for the Lord God of recompenses shall
surely requite. And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men,
her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep
a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the
Lord of hosts.”
“I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon,
and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou
hast striven against the Lord. The Lord hath opened His armory, and
hath brought forth the weapons of His indignation: for this is the work
of the Lord God of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.”
“Thus saith the Lord of hosts; The children of Israel and the chil-
dren of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives
held them fast; they refused to let them go. Their Redeemer is strong;
the Lord of hosts is His name: He shall throughly plead their cause,
that He may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Baby-
lon.”
Jeremiah 51:41
;
50:23, 46
;
Jeremiah 51:8, 56, 57
;
50:24, 25, 33,
34
.
Thus “the broad walls of Babylon” became “utterly broken, and
her high gates ... burned with fire.” Thus did Jehovah of hosts “cause
the arrogancy of the proud to cease,” and lay low “the haughtiness of
the terrible.” Thus did “Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty
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of the Chaldees’ excellency,” become as Sodom and Gomorrah—a
place forever accursed. “It shall never be inhabited,” Inspiration has
declared, “neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: