35. Q. What river flowed through the city of Babylon? A. The river Euphrates.
36. Q. Who was king of Babylon when Cyrus attempted its conquest? A. Belshazzar.
37. Q. In what manner did Cyrus capture the city? A. He turned the Euphrates from its course, and marching his army by the dry bed of the river under the walls, surprised Belshazzar at a feast, and gained full possession of the city.
38. Q. To whom does the Bible narrative attribute the taking possession of Babylon? A. To Darius the Mede.
39. Q. How can this apparent contradiction be explained? A. On the probable theory that Darius held the sovereignty as the viceroy of Cyrus.
40. Q. How has a recently discovered inscription confirmed the truth of the Scripture narrative that Belshazzar was the king of Babylon at the time of its capture, although authorities in secular history give the name of Nabonnedus as the king? A. By proving that Nabonnedus, during the last years of his reign, associated his son, Bil-shar-uzur—which name is shortened to Belshazzar—with himself in the government, and allowed him the royal title.
41. Q. At the time of the capture of Babylon who were in captivity there? A. The Jews.
42. Q. How many years after the captivity did the restoration of the Jews to Jerusalem take place? A. Seventy years.
43. Q. One year after the taking of Babylon what proclamation did Cyrus issue? A. A proclamation allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem, and rebuild their city and the Temple.
44. Q. After the conquest of Babylon of how large a territory did Cyrus find himself the sovereign? A. Nearly all of then known Asia.