[257] LXX., ἐλάλησε μετ' αὐτῶν. Considering the normal degradation of pages at Oriental courts, of which Rycaut (referred to by Pusey, p. 18) "gives a horrible account," their escape from the corruption around them was a blessed reward of their faithfulness. They may now have been seventeen, the age for entering the king's service (Xen., Cyrop., I. ii. 8). On the ordinary curse of the rule of eunuchs at Eastern courts see an interesting note in Pusey, p. 21.
[258] On the names see Gesenius, Isaiah, ii. 355.
[259] Alluded to in ix. 25.
[260] Daniel, pp. 20, 21.
[261] Comp. Gen. xxxix. 21; 1 Kings viii. 50; Neh. i. 1; Psalm cvi. 46.
[262] Lam. iv. 7.
[263] Hor., Sat., II. ii. 77.
[264] Milton, Reason of Church Government.
[265] Dante, Inferno, xiv. 94-120.
[266] The Assyrian and Babylonian kings, however, only dated their reigns from the first new year after their accession.