ous edict, whereby the Jews were permitted to return into their own
country, after a seventy years' captivity at Babylon.

(M165) _Kings of Babylon._(_1013_)--BELESIS. He is the same as Nabonassar,
from whose reign began the famous astronomical epocha at Babylon, called
from his name the _AEra of Nabonassar_. In the holy Scriptures he is called
Baladan. He reigned but twelve years, and was succeeded by his son:

(M166) MERODACH-BALADAN. This is the prince who sent ambassadors to king
Hezekiah, to congratulate him on the recovery of his health, of which we
shall speak hereafter.(1014) After him there reigned several other kings
of Babylon,(1015) with whose story we are entirely unacquainted. I shall
therefore proceed to the kings of Nineveh.

(M167) _Kings of Nineveh_.--TIGLATH-PILESER. This is the name given by the
holy Scripture to the king, who is supposed to be the first that reigned
at Nineveh, after the destruction of the ancient Assyrian empire. He is
called Thilgamus, by AElian.(1016) He is said to have taken the name of
Ninus the younger, in order to honour and distinguish his reign by the
name of so ancient and illustrious a prince.

Ahaz, king of Judah,(1017) whose incorrigible impiety could not be
reclaimed, either by the divine favours or chastisements, finding himself
attacked at the same time by the kings of Syria and Israel, robbed the
temple of part of its gold and silver, and sent it to Tiglath-Pileser, to
purchase his assistance; promising him besides to become his vassal, and
to pay him tribute. The king of Assyria finding so favourable an
opportunity of adding Syria and Palestine to his empire, readily accepted
the proposal. Advancing that way with a numerous army, he beat Rezin, took
Damascus, and put an end to the kingdom erected there by the Syrians, as
God had foretold by his prophets Isaiah and Amos(1018). From thence he
marched against Pekah, and took all that belonged to the kingdom of Israel
beyond Jordan, as well as all Galilee. But he made Ahaz pay very dear for
his protection, still exacting of him such exorbitant sums of money, that
for the payment of them he was obliged not only to exhaust his own
treasures, but to take all the gold and silver of the temple. Thus this
alliance served only to drain the kingdom of Judah, and to bring into its
neighbourhood the powerful kings of Nineveh; who afterwards became so many
instruments in the hand of God for the chastisement of his people.

(M1