Talatha_, a city of
the children of _Eden_, placed by _Ptolomy_ in _Babylonia_, upon the common
stream of _Tigris_ and _Euphrates_, which was therefore the river of
Paradise; and the _Archevites_ at _Areca_ or _Erech_, a city built by
_Nimrod_ on the east side of _Pasitigris_, between _Apamia_ and the
_Persian Gulph_; and the _Susanchites_ at _Cuth_, or _Susa_, the metropolis
of _Susiana_: on the east were _Elymais_, and some cities of the _Medes_,
and _Kir_, [352] a city and large region of _Media_, between _Elymais_, and
_Assyria_, called _Kirene_ by the _Chaldee_ Paraphrast and _Latin_
Interpreter, and _Carine_ by _Ptolomy_: on the north-east were _Habor_ or
_Chaboras_, a mountainous region between _Assyria_ and _Media_; and the
_Apharsachites_, or men of _Arrapachitis_, a region originally peopled by
_Arphaxad_, and placed by _Ptolomy_ at the bottom of the mountains next
_Assyria_: and on the north between _Assyria_ and the _Gordiaean_ mountains
was _Halah_ or _Chalach_, the metropolis of _Calachene_: and beyond these
upon the _Caspian_ sea was _Gozan_, called _Gauzania_ by _Ptolomy_. Thus
did these new conquests extend every way from the province of _Assyria_ to
considerable distances, and make up the great body of that Monarchy: so
that well might the King of _Assyria_ boast how his armies had destroyed
all lands. All these nations [353] had 'till now their several Gods, and
each accounted his God the God of his own land, and the defender thereof,
against the Gods of the neighbouring countries, and particularly against
the Gods of _Assyria_; and therefore they were never 'till now united under
the _Assyrian_ Monarchy, especially since the King of _Assyria_ doth not
boast of their being conquered by the _Assyrians_ oftner than once: but
these being small Kingdoms the King of _Assyria_ easily overflowed them:
_Know ye not_, saith [354] _Sennacherib_ to the _Jews_, _what I and my
fathers have done unto all the People of other lands?--for no God of any
nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out
of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of
mine hand?_ He and his fathers therefore, _Pul_, _Tiglath-pileser_, and
_Shalmaneser_, were great conquerors, and with a current of victories had
newly overflowed all nations round about _Assyria_, and thereby set up this
Monarchy.

Between the Reigns of _Jeroboam_ II, and his son _Zachariah_, there was an
interregnum of ab