That was the time when the Israelites dispersed. Some of
them settled in the Hijaz, at Yathrib and in the Wadi al-Qura,
and elsewhere. 140 According to a report reaching us, God then
inspired Jeremiah thus, "I am restoring Jerusalem. Therefore,
proceed to settle there." So he set out, and arriving there he
found it in ruins. He said to himself, "God be praised, He commanded
me to settle in this city and announced to me that He
would restore it. But when will He rebuild it, and when will He
revive it? After its death?" He then put his head down and
fell
asleep. His donkey and provision-basket were with him. He remained
asleep seventy years, so that Nebuchadnezzar was
gone, as was the great king above him, that is, Luhrasb. His
reign lasted 120 years, and he was succeeded by his son Bishtasb.
141 Word reached the latter about Palestine, that it was in
139. See feremiah 39:11-14; 40:1-10; 41, 43.
140. The settlement of the Jews in Arabia is connected
here with the destruction of the Judean kindgom and the Babylonian captivity in
586 B.C. See
Y. Hirschberg, Israel in Arabia IHebrew), and C.C.
Torrey, The Jewish foundations of Islam ; f. Montgomery, Arabia and the Bible-,
D.S. Margoliouth, The Relations between Arabs and Israelites. The Wadi al-Qura
contained a chain
of settlements between Syria and North Arabia. See Yaqut,
Mu'iam, IV, 877.
141. Bishtasb or Gushtasp is a late form of Old Iranian
Vishtaspa. See Justi,
Iran Nb, 37if. The theory that this early figure of a
king, who was said to be
46
The Ancient Kingdoms
ruins and that wild beasts had become numerous there, and
that no humans remained there. He announced in Babylonia
among the Israelites that whosoever wished to return to Palestine
could do so, and he made a man of the progeny of David king over them. He
ordered him to rebuild Jerusalem and to reconstruct its temple (masjid)-, consequently,
the Israelites returned and rebuilt it. Then God opened Jeremiah's eyes, and
the prophet looked at the city as it was being rebuilt. He had
slept until he was a hundred years old, but when God revived
him he thought he had been asleep for only an hour. He remembered
the city in ruin and desolation. When he saw it now, he exclaimed, "I know
that God is powerful over everything." 142
The Children of Israel settled in Jerusalem and their government
was returned to them. They multiplied there until the Romans were victorious
over them in the period of the regional princes ( muluk al-tawa'if ). He After
that they no longer had a commonwealth ( jama'ah ).
It was in the time of Bishtasb that Zoroaster (Zaradasht),
whom the Zoroastrians consider their prophet, appeared. Some
scholars from among the People of the Book in Palestine assert
that Zoroaster was a servant of one of the prophet Jeremiah's
disciples, and that he was close to the latter and favored by
him. 144 But he betrayed his master and slandered him. The
the patron of the prophet Zoroaster, was identical with
the Achaemenian king
of the same name (the father of Darius I), has been
propounded by E. Herzfeld
in Zoroaster and his world, but criticized by other
scholars. See especially
W.B. Henning, Zoroaster, Politician or Witch-doctor I
142. The prototypes for this story are the rabbinic
legends of Honi the Circlemaker and Jeremiah's disciple Baruch ben Neriah. See
Ginzberg, Legends, VI, 409ff. ; also Speyer, Erzdhhmgen, 425. The story may
echo Jeremiah 29:1-7 or 40:7-10. The apocalyptic theme concerning sleeper and
donkey is found in
Qur'an 2:261 and is also used by 'Abbasid propagandists
who cite the Qur’anic verse.
143. That is, the period between Alexander the Great and
the Sasanian dynasty. The term muluk al-tawa'if may also be rendered as
princelings, petty
kings, petty dynasties, and so forth. More specifically,
it refers here to the
Diadochs.
144. Note that Jeremiah had a secretary, one Baruch ben
Neriah. For the rabbinic legends concerning him, see Ginzberg, Legends, IV,
322, 324; VI, 41 iff.
The identification of Zoroaster with Baruch ben Neriah is
made in several Syriac and Arabic sources. See Jackson, Zoroaster, i65f .;
Bidez and Cumont, Les
An Account of Luhrasb
47
master invoked wrath, and the man thus became a leper. He
reached Adharbayjan where he started the Zoroastrian faith.
Later he went to Bishtasb, who was then at Balkh. When Zoroaster
came to Bishtasb and offered him the new faith, the king admired it, forced the
people to embrace it, and perpetrated a great massacre among his subjects in
this connection.
They followed his religion. Bishtasb reigned for 1 12 years.
But another scholar well versed in antiquity said that Kay
Luhrasb was commended by the people of his realm. He was repressive
towards the rulers around Iran (Iranshahr), strict with his associates,
high-minded, and absorbed in construction, irrigation and cultivation. The kings
of Rome, North Africa, and India, and other rulers, used to pay him a set
annual tribute and
impost, and they addressed him with reverence, recognizing him with
awe as King of Kings.
It is said that Nebuchadnezzar brought him treasures and
valuables from Jerusalem. When Luhrasb felt he was becoming
weak, he made his son Bishtasb king. He thus retired from rule
while entrusting it to his son. Luhrasb is said to have reigned
120 years. It was asserted that this Nebuchadnezzar who
attacked the Israelites was called Bukhtrashah, and that he was a
Persian of the progeny of Judharz. It is also asserted that he
lived a long life of over three hundred years, and that he was
in the service of King Luhrasb, the father of Bishtasb. It was
Luhrasb who sent him to Palestine and Jerusalem in order to
exile the Jews from there. He went there and later withdrew.
After serving Luhrasb, he served his son Bishtasb and, later,
Bahman 145 who lived in the city of Balkh, called The Beautiful
."
It is also asserted that it was Bahman who ordered Bukhtrashah
to go to Jerusalem to exile the Jews from there. The reason
mages hellenises, I, 49f. ; 4 iff., where other Jewish
identifications of Zoroaster
are discussed. See also H.S. Nyberg, fCOI , 39 (1958J,
4sff. and J. Neusner, JBR,
32 (1964L 359 — 3 6 °- See also the Hebrew medieval
stories connected with
the name of Ben Sira (Sirach), discussed in E. Yasif,
Sippuie Ben Sira.
145. The ancient form of this name is Vohu Manah,
"of good mind," which
also serves as a name for one of the Amesha Spenta, the
group of abstract di-
vine figures around Ahura Mazda. On this mythical king
see Justi, Iran Nb ,
374, s.v. Wohu-Manah.
48
The Ancient Kingdoms
therefore was that the ruler of Jerusalem attacked the
messengers Bahman had sent to him, and slew some of them.
When Bahman learned of this he called Bukhtrashah. He made
him king of Babylon and ordered him to proceed there, and
then to go to Palestine and Jerusalem, specifically against the
Jews, to slay their fighters and seize their young ones. Bahman
gave him a free hand to select from among the nobles and
officers whomever he wished, and Bukhtrashah selected from the
royal house Darius 146 the son of Mahri, of the progeny of
[650] Madai b. Japhet b. Noah. 147 Darius was Bukhtrashah 's
nephew. He also selected Cyrus Kaykawan, 148 one of the sons
of Elam b. Shem who was in charge of the treasury of Bahman,
and Ahasuerus b. Cyrus b. Jamasb, 149 who was nicknamed the
sage, as well as Bahram b. Cyrus b. Bishtasb. 150 Bahman
assigned to him these four of his kin and retinue, and also some
dignitaries of the asawiiah and their leaders. There were three
hundred of them and fifty thousand soldiers of the army.
Bahman permitted him to exact whatever he needed to maintain
them.
Buktrashah now marched with them southward until they
reached Babylon. He stayed there for a year to prepare for the
campaign. A vast number of people came to him. Among them
was a man of the progeny of Sennacherib, the king who had
raided King Hezekiah b. Ahaz in Palestine and Jerusalem. The
latter was of the progeny of Solomon and David, and the friend
of Isaiah. The man's name was Nebuchadnezzar b. Nebuzaradan
b. Sennacherib (ruler of Mosul and its environs) b. Darius
b. 'Ablri b. Tin b. Ruba b. Raya b. Solomon (Salamun) b. David
b. TamI b. Hamil b. Harman b. Fudi b. Hamul b. Darami b.
146. The Old Persian form of this name is, in the
nominative, Darayavahu§
(although the -h- is not expressed in the Old Persian script).
The late Persian
tradition preserves this name as Darab, Dara. See Justi,
Iran Nb, 78-80.
147. Genesis 10:2.
148. There is some confusion about this person, which
Justi, Iran Nb, 167,
s.v. Kuru, No. 2, tries to correct by emending the name
to read Kay-Arish son
of Kay Kawad.
149. See Justi, Iran Nb, 167, s.v. Kuru, No. 1.
150. The name Bahram is a development of Old Iranian
Verethraghna. On
this person see Justi, Iran Nb, 361, s.v. Werethraghna,
No. 3.
An Account of Luhrasb
49
Qama’il b. Sama b. Raghma b. Nimrod b. Kush b. Ham b. Noah.
This man came to Bukhtrashah because of the tribute that
Hezekiah and the Israelites had brought to his ancestor -
Sennacherib when the latter waged war on them. Thus he ingratiated
himself with Bukhtrashah, who sent him out with a large
force. Then Bukhtrashah followed him. When the soldiers
massed at Jerusalem, Bukhtrashah proved victorious over the
Israelites because God wanted to punish them. As a result, he
took them prisoner, destroyed the Temple, and retired to
Babylon with Jehoiachin b. Jehoiakim, a descendent of Solomon
. Jehoiachin was king of Israel at the time. Bukhtrashah
returned after appointing Mattaniya, uncle of Jehoiachin, to be
king, renaming him Zedekiah. When Nebuchadnezzar arrived
in Babylon, Zedekiah rebelled. Nebuchadnezzar attacked him
again, and defeated him; he destroyed his city and the temple.
After slaying Zedekiah's sons and putting out his eyes,
Nebuchadnezzar carried Zedekiah in chains to Babylon. The
Children of Israel remained in Babylon until they returned to
Jerusalem. According to our source, Nebuchadnezzar, the one
named Bukhtrashah, lived forty years after the conquests of
Jerusalem. He was succeeded by his son, Merodakh, who ruled
the area for twenty-three years. Then the latter died and was
succeeded by a son called Belshazzar b. Merodakh, who ruled
for a year.
When Belshazzar became king, he became confused in his
rule. Bahman dismissed him, and in his stead he appointed
Darius the Mede 151 over Babylon and the adjoining regions of
Syria and the other districts. Darius was related to MadhI b.
Japheth b. Noah. Darius then slew Belshazzar, and reigned over
Babylon and the region of Syria for three years. Then Bahman
dismissed him and appointed instead Cyrus the Elamite, 152 of
the progeny of Elam b. Shem b. Noah, who had gone to Gomer
with Madai when Gomer went eastward. When power was
151. This mythical figure is mentioned in Daniel 9:1 and
in Josephus, Ant.
10. 1 r.i, 4,7. See Justi, Iran Nb, 78, s.v.
Darayawa(h)u, No. 1.
i$z. The same person was called Cyrus Kay-Kawan. See
above, n. 148.
50
The Ancient Kingdoms
invested in Cyrus, Bahman wrote to him instructing him to be
kind to the Israelites, to permit them to settle wherever they
wished, to return to their country, and to appoint whomever
they chose to lead them. They chose the prophet Daniel, and
he took charge of their affairs. Cyrus ruled Babylon and the
adjacent territory for three years. These years ” from the time of
the victory of Nebuchadnezzar to the end of his power and that
of his son, and the reign of Cyrus the Elamite, counting from
the destruction of Jerusalem ” are referred to as the period of
Nebuchadnezzar, a period of seventy years. 153
After that, Babylon and its environs were ruled on behalf of
Bahman by one of his relatives called Ahasuerus b. Cyrus b.
Jamasb. Nicknamed the sage, he was one of the four dignitaries
selected by Bukhtrashah when he set out for Palestine on
behalf of Bahman. Ahasuerus had come to Bahman well
recommended by Nebuchadnezzar, and it was at that time that
Bahman appointed him to rule Babylon and its environs. He was
{653] appointed, so it is asserted, because a man who had administered
the region of India (Sind and Hind) for Bahman, Karardashir
b. Dashkal, 154 rebelled with six hundred thousand followers
. Bahman therefore appointed Ahasuerus over the region
and ordered him to go to Karardashir, which he did. He waged
war on the rebel, slaying him and most of his supporters.
Bahman continued adding to the administrative duties of
Ahasuerus, giving him various parts of the realm to rule over.
The latter stayed at Susa, gathered nobles around him and
wined and dined them; he ruled the region from Babylon to
India, and Ethiopia and the coast. On a single day he gave each of
one hundred twenty military commanders a banner and a
thousand choice soldiers, each of whom equalled one hundred
warriors.
Ahasuerus became entrenched in Babylon but spent much
time at Susa, and he married a woman from among the Israelite
captives. She was called Esther, the daughter of Abihail. She
153. Jeremiah 29:10. Note, however, that Jerusalem fell
in 587 B.C. and the
return began in 539 B.C., the beginning of Cyrus's reign.
154. See Justi, Iran Nb, 156, s.v. Kara, No. 3.
An Account of Luhrasb 5 1
had been raised by an uncle of hers, Mordechai, who was her
milch-brother, as Mordechai's mother milk-fed Esther. The
reason he married her was that he had killed one of his wives, a
noble, beautiful, bright woman, named Vashti. He had ordered
Vashti to appear before the people in order that they might see
her majesty and beauty, but she refused. Ahasuerus slew her
but then became anxious about it. It was suggested to him that
he review the women of the world, which he did. He became
attracted to Esther by a divine design for the sake of the
Israelites
. The Christians assert that she bore him a son on his way
to Babylon, and that he named it Cyrus. They also assert that
the rule of Ahasuerus lasted fourteen years, that Mordechai
taught him the Torah, and that Cyrus embraced the faith of the
Israelites and learned from the prophet Daniel and his companions,
Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. They asked the king to
permit them to proceed to Jerusalem but he refused, saying,
"Even if a thousand of your prophets were with me, no one
would leave me as long as I live." He appointed Daniel as
judge
and transferred to him all his power, ordering him to remove
from the treasuries and return to Jerusalem whatever
Nebuchadnezzar had taken from there. The king started the
reconstruction of Jerusalem. It was built and completed in the days
of Cyrus b. Ahasuerus. 155
The reign of Cyrus was within that of Bahman and Khumani 155
and lasted some twenty-two years. Bahman died after
thirteen years of the rule of Cyrus, and Cyrus died four years
after KhumanI assumed power. The total reign of Cyrus b.
Ahasuerus lasted twenty-two years. This is what those versed
in biography and history report about Nebuchadnezzar and his
relations with the Children of Israel. Old (Muslim) authorities
among the learned gave different reports about the matter.
Thus I was told by al-Qasim b. al-Hasan ” Hajjaj ” Ibn Jurayj
Ya'la b. Muslim ” Said b. Jubayr: An Israelite was reading
155. Cyrus b. Ahasuerus is Cyrus the Great. See Justi,
IranNb, 167, s.v. Kuru,
No. 3.
rs6. Another form of the name attested is Huma, Humay,
both daughter and
wife of Bahman. See Justi, IranNb, 132, s.v. Huma, No. 2.
52 The Ancient Kingdoms
until he reached the passage, "We sent against you servants of
Ours, men of great might." 157 He wept bitterly, closed the
scripture, and said, "Such is the time God intended."
Then he
[655] said, "O Lord, show me this man by whose hand You will
accomplish the destruction of the Children of Israel." He was
shown in his dream a wretch in Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar by
name. The Israelite was a rich man, and he set out with money
and servants. He was asked, "Where are you going?" and
replied, "I want to trade." He settled in a house in
Babylon and
took it on lease. Alone there, he began to invite the beggars and
was kind to them. Giving something to everyone who came, he
would ask, "Are there not any other poor men?" They said,
"Yes, a wretch in such and such neighborhood, a sick man,
Nebuchadnezzar by name." He said to his servants,
"Come."
He walked until he reached that man, whereupon he asked,
"What is your name?" "Nebuchadnezzar," he
replied; whereupon
he said to his servants, "Carry him." They carried him to
the house, where the Israelite nursed him until the man recovered
ered, and gave him clothes and adequate support. Then the
Israelite announced he was going to leave, and Nebuchadnezzar
wept. "Why are you crying?" the Israelite asked. The
other
man replied, "I am crying because you treated me in this
manner, and I find nothing with which to reciprocate." At
this, the
Israelite said, "Oh yes, I want a slight matter from you:
Should
you become king, you should obey me." 158 The other man
began following him saying, "You are mocking me" ” he was
prepared to do as requested but he felt that he was being
mocked. The Israelite wept, and said, "I know that what
prevents you from granting my request is that God wishes to carry
out what He decreed and wrote in His scripture."
Fate struck its blow. Sayhun ” the Persian king in Babylon
” said, "What if we sent a vanguard to Palestine?" (His
advisors)
said, "Not a bad [idea]." He then asked, "Whom would
you
157. Qur’an 17:5.
158. in malakta a^a'tani, "If you become king, you
would accede to my
wish." In Tabari's commentary on the Qur’an 15:5-7,
vol. XV, 29 |ed. 1954),
Ibn Jubayr is quoted for this story. It is evident that
there is a confusion of
ata'tani, "you would obey me," and a'taytani,
"you would give or grant me."
An Account of Luhrasb
53
consider [sending]?" They said, "Such and such." So
he sent a
man with an army of a hundred thousand, and Nebuchadnezzar
went along in his kitchen, in order to eat his fill. When he
arrived in Palestine, the head of the vanguard found that God's
country abounded in horses and sturdy men, which made him
wary,- but he did not investigate (the situation). Nebuchadnezzar
began to take part in the councils of the native population,
and he would say, "What prevents you from attacking Babylon
? If you raided it, you would have access to its wealth."
They replied, "We are not good at fighting and do not
fight." So
he abandoned the councils of the native population. Then the
vanguard returned, and its commander informed their king of
what he had seen. Nebuchadnezzar began talking to the king's
cavalry, "If the king called me, I would inform him
otherwise."
This was reported to the king who called him in, whereupon
Nebuchadnezzar informed him, "When that commander of the
vanguard saw that country so rich in horses and sturdy men, he
became wary and made no inquiry,- but I left no gathering there
unattended, and I told them such and such, and they told me
such and such" — that is the version of Sa'id b. Jubayr. The
chief of the vanguard then said to Nebuchadnezzar, "You have
disgraced me,- I'll pay you a hundred thousand (coins) if you
withdraw what you said." He replied, "If you gave me Babylon's
treasury, I would not withdraw it."
The wheel of fate turned. The king said, "Suppose we send a
cavalry detachment to Palestine; and if they find the going
easy, let them proceed, and if not, let them wrest from it as
much as they can." (His advisors) said, "Not a bad [idea]."
Then he asked, "Whom would you consider [sending]?" They
said, "Such and such." Said he, "[I would] rather
[send] the man
who informed me." He called in Nebuchadnezzar, and then
dispatched him with four thousand horsemen. They departed,
spied out the entire land and captured what they could, but
without destroying or killing.
It so happened that Sayhun died and was being buried. Some
said, "Appoint a successor." Others said, "Don't
rush! Let your
men, your choice cavalry arrive, lest they be resentful." So
they tarried until Nebuchadnezzar came with the captives and
54
The Ancient Kingdoms
the spoils, which he proceeded to distribute among the people.
Then they said, "We see nobody more worthy of kingship than
he." So they made him king.
Other (Muslim) scholars say that Nebuchadnezzar went out
against the Israelites because of a conflict that arose when they
killed John, the son of Zechariah. 159
159. Yahya b. Zakariyya', that is, John the Baptist.
*
The
Reason Why Nebuchadnezzar
Destroyed
Jerusalem
According to Musa b. Harun ” 'Amr b. Hammad ” Asbat — al-
Suddl, and the chain of authority we mentioned above: Sayha’in
dispatched Nebuchadnezzar to wage war on the Israelites when their king slew
John the son of Zechariah and word reached Sayhain about his death.
According to Ibn Humayd” -Salamah” Ibn Ishaq: According
to what I learned, Almighty God appointed over the Israelites,
after Isaiah, a man called Josiah b. Amoz. Then God sent them
al-Khadir 160 as a prophet ” his name, as Wahb b. Munabbih
asserted on the authority of Israelites, was Jeremiah b. Hilkiah,
of the tribe of Aaron. 161
As for Wahb b. Munabbih, what he related about al-Khadir, I
heard from Muhammad b. Sahl b. 'Askar al-Bukhari ” Isma'il
b. 'Abd al-Karim â” 'Abd al-Samad b. Ma'qil who said: I heard
Wahb b. Munabbih relate
According to Ibn Humayd ” Salamah ” Ibn Ishaq ” an
unquestionable authority:
Wahb b. Munabbih al-Yamam used to
tell as follows: Almighty God told Jeremiah when he sent him
160. Also rendered al-Khidr. For this prophet, who is a
hero of Arabic folklore, see El 2 , s.v. al-Khadir.
161. Jeremiah 2:8. Here al-Khadir is identified with
Jeremiah.
$6
The Ancient Kingdoms
to be a prophet among the Israelites; “Before I created you, I
selected you, and before I shaped you in the womb of your
mother, I consecrated you, and before I removed you from your
mother's womb I purified you, and before you could walk I
made you a prophet, and before you reached manhood I tested
you, and I elected you for an important task." For Almighty
God sent Jeremiah to that king of the Israelites, to instruct and
direct him, to bring him the divine message in whatever arose
between him and Almighty God.
Then the affairs of the Israelites became grave. They were
guilty of acts of disobedience, violated prohibitions, and forgot
what God had done for them, and that He had saved them from
their enemy Sennacherib and his hosts. Then Almighty God
revealed to Jeremiah, Go to thy people, the Children of Israel,
and tell them that which I shall command you; remind them of
My favors to them, make known to them their misfortunes."
Jeremiah said, “I am weak, unless You strengthen me. I fail,
unless You grant me attainment. I err, unless You instruct me.
I am forsaken, unless You help me. I am humble, unless You
honor me."
Almighty God replied,
Do you not know that everything issues from My will, and
that all hearts and tongues are in My hands? I turn them at
My will, and they obey Me. I am the incomparable God. By
My word arose heaven and earth and whatever is in them. I
address the seas, and they hearken to My word. I command
them, and they comply with My order. I set limits to
them in the plain, and there is no violation of My boundary
. In mountain-like waves they come but when they
reach the limit I have set, in fear and cognizance of My
decree, they are enveloped in humbleness of obedience to
Me. I am with you, and no evil will come to you while I
am with you. I send you to a great host of My creatures, to
convey to them My messages. Thereby will you merit
the reward of those of them who will hearken to you; it
will not be less than their rewards. And, should you fail
therein, you will merit the burden of him whom you have
left, and in his blindness, no less. Go to your people and
Why Nebuchadnezzar Destroyed Jerusalem
57
tell them, "God remembers the good of your ancestors.
This urged Him to call upon you, O sons, to repent." Ask
them, how their fathers found the effect of obedience to
Me, and how they found the consequence of disobedience
toward Me. Do they know anyone before them who
obeyed Me but was wretched in obedience to Me, or was
disobedient toward Me, yet prospered in that disobedience?
Beasts remembering their goodly domiciles, return
to them; but these people graze in the meadows of perdition
. Their rabbis and monks took My worshipers as servants,
and the people worship them, not Me, and they [the rabbis and
monks] judge them not in accordance with My scripture. They made the people
ignore Me, forget Me.
Their princes and leaders disregard My favor, believe they
are safe from My cunning, spurn My scripture, forget My
covenant, alter My procedure, and My creatures believe in
them with the loyalty due only to Me. The people obey
the leaders in disobeying Me, and follow them in heresy
against My religion and in insolence, heedlessness and
deception toward Me and My messengers. By My majesty,
exaltedness, and power! Is it seemly that I create creatures
to serve as divinities? Their readers and legists practice
devotion in sanctuaries, and display religiosity in erecting
them for a deity other than Myself, as they seek worldly
advantage in religion. They study there not for knowledge,
and learn not for deed. The sons of prophets are outnumbered,
overpowered, deluded, "plunge along with the plungers.
" 162 They desire that I help them as I did their
fathers, and honor them as I honored their fathers.
Without truth, thought and consideration they assert
that none is worthier thereof than they. They do not
remember how their fathers assisted Me, and how they
exerted themselves for Me, when heretics wrought
alternations. Nor do they remember how their ancestors
sacrificed their very lives, how they suffered but believed,
until My order prevailed and My religion was victorious. I
have been patient with these people ” perhaps they will
16 1. Qur’an 74:76.
The Ancient Kingdoms
58
respond. I gave them time, I forgave them ” perhaps they
will repent. I gave them long life ” perhaps they will
reflect. I forgave throughout, I gave them rain, and made the
earth grow plants for them, granted them health and
victory over the enemy. But they merely became more
wicked, more removed from Me. How long will they struggle
with Me? [How long] will they deceive Me? I swear by
My Majesty, that I shall foreordain for them a hardship
that will confuse the forebearing; the sensible man's sense
will go astray, and so will the wise man's wisdom. Then
shall I give mastery over them to a harsh and violent
tyrant, whom I shall clad in awe, and from whose heart I
shall remove mercy, compassion and leniency; who will
be followed by a host like the blackness of the dark of [the]
night, with soldiers like flocks of clouds, and chariots like
the raging sea. The flutter of his banners is like the flight
of eagles, the attack by his horsemen like the eagles'
scream.
Later, Almighty God revealed to Jeremiah, "I shall destroy
the Children of Israel at the hand of Japheth." Japheth refers
to
the people of Babylon who are the progeny of Japheth, the son
of Noah. When Jeremiah heard the divine revelation, he cried
out and wept, rent his clothes and poured dust on his head,
and said, "Cursed be the day wherein I was born, 1M the day I
learned the law; my worst day is the one when I was born. I
was left to be the last of the prophets only for what is evil unto
me. If He wished me well He would not make me the last of
the prophets of the Children of Israel. Through me,
wretchedness and destruction shall strike."
When God heard al-Khadir imploring, crying, and exclaiming,
He called unto him, "O Jeremiah, does my revelation
grieve you?" He then replied, "Yes, O Lord, destroy me
before I
see calamity overwhelm the Children of Israel." But Almighty
God said, "By My majesty and glory, I shall not destroy
Jerusalem
and the Children of Israel until the decree comes from
163. These were traditional signs of mourning among the
lews. See jeremiah
20:14.
164. Jeremiah 20:14-18.
Why Nebuchadnezzar Destroyed Jerusalem
59
you." Jeremiah rejoiced at hearing what his Lord had said. His
soul became uplifted and he replied, "No, by Him who sent the
truth through Moses and His prophets, never shall I urge my
Lord to destroy the Children of Israel." Then he came to the
king of the Children of Israel and announced to him what God
had revealed. The king rejoiced at hearing the good news and
became jubilant. He said, "Should the Lord chastise us, it
would be for the many sins we have perpetrated, but it is
within His power to forgive us."
For three years after this revelation they increased their
refractory behavior and persevered in their evil ways; all this at
the time when their destruction was approaching. They were
not thinking of the world to come. Revelation was withheld
from them as worldly matters continued to distract them.
Their king said to them, "O Children of Israel, desist from
these doings before divine force steps in, before God sends
against you a people who will have no pity on you; the Lord is
close to the repentent." But they refused to desist from any
of
their behavior.
God moved Nebuchadnezzar b. Nabuzeradan b. Sennacherib
b. Darius (Daryas) b. Nimrod (the one who disputed with Abraham
concerning his Lord) b. Peleg b. Eber to proceed to Jerusalem
and to accomplish there what his grandfather Sennacherib
had intended to do. 145 He set out for Jerusalem with an army
of six hundred thousand men. When he departed, the news
reached the king of the Israelites, "Nebuchadnezzar and his
army have set out to fight you." Then the king sent for Jeremiah.
When the prophet arrived, the king said, "O Jeremiah,
what about the revelation that God would not destroy the people
of Jerusalem except by your urging?" Jeremiah said to the
king, "The Lord does not revoke a promise, and 1 put my trust
in Him." When the time approached, and the end of their
realm was at hand, and God decided that they should be
destroyed, He dispatched an angel to whom He said, "Go to Jeremiah
and ask him for his opinion." And (God) instructed him what to ask of
Jeremiah. Disguised as an Israelite, the angel
165. For Nimrod, see Genesis ro:8ff. ; for Peleg, 10:2s.
See also Qur’an 2:260
concerning a dispute with God.
6o
The Ancient Kingdoms
came to Jeremiah. The prophet said to him, "Who are you?"
The angel replied, "An Israelite, asking you about a concern
of
mine." The prophet consented, and the angel said to him,
"O
Prophet, I came to ask you about my kith and kin whom I have
treated kindly in accordance with divine command. I have
treated them with kindness throughout, and have not failed to
honor them. But the more I honor them, the more they rage
against me. Give me your opinion of them, O Prophet." Jeremiah
said to him, "Improve relations between yourself and
God, treat the relatives in accordance with divine command,
and may you be happy." The angel then departed. A few days
later he reappeared in the same guise. Jeremiah asked, "Who
are you?" "I am the man who came to you to consult you
about
my kith and kin," he replied. The prophet asked, "Has
there
been no improvement yet in their attitude? Are you still dissatisfied?
" He responded, "O Prophet, by God, I know no manner
of honoring relatives which I have not attempted or improved
upon." To this Jeremiah then said, "Go back to your
people, be
good to them, and ask God, who encourages the virtuous, to
better your relations, so that all of you will please God and be
spared His wrath."
The angel left, and was absent for several days. Nebuchadnezzar
and his troops descended upon Jerusalem. They were
more numerous than locusts. The Israelites were in terror, and
the king of the Israelites was distressed. Summoning Jeremiah,
he said, "O Prophet, what of the divine promise?" "I
trust the
Lord," replied the prophet. Then the angel approached Jeremiah
as he was sitting on the wall of Jerusalem, smiling and -
rejoicing at the promised divine help. He sat down in front of the
prophet who asked him, "Who are you?" "I am the one
who
came to you twice about my relatives," he replied. "Is it
not
time for them to rouse themselves?" asked Jeremiah. "O
Prophet, I have borne with patience all that I suffered from
them to this day, although I knew their purpose was to anger
me. But when I came to them today, I saw them in an act that
will displease God," he said. "What act?" asked
Jeremiah. He
answered, "O Prophet, a grave act to anger God. Had they
continued their previous behavior, my anger would not have
become vehement, I would have suffered and hoped; but today I
Why Nebuchadnezzar Destroyed Jerusalem 61
became furious for the sake of God and of you. So I came to tell
you about them, and I ask you, by God who sent you to
announce the truth, would you not invoke God to destroy
them?" Jeremiah then exclaimed, "O King of heaven and
earth,
if they are right and just, leave them be, but if they anger and
displease You, destroy them." No sooner did the word pass
Jeremiah's lips than God sent from heaven a thunderbolt upon
Jerusalem. The sacrificial alter caught fire, and the seven city
gates collapsed. When Jeremiah saw that, he shouted, rent his
garment, poured dust on his head, and exclaimed, "O King of
heaven, Most Merciful, where is your promise to me? " Then it
was announced (from heaven), "O Jeremiah, what befalls them,
comes by your decision announced to Our messenger."
The prophet realized that it was his decision ” which he had
uttered thrice to the Lord's messenger. He lost his mind and
mingled with wild beasts. Nebuchadnezzar with his troops
entered Jerusalem, conquered Palestine, slew the Israelites until
he annihilated them, and destroyed the temple. He then -
ordered each of his troops to fill his shield with dust, and to
throw it upon the temple. They did so, filling the site. He then
left for Babylon, taking the captive Israelites. He ordered all
those from Jerusalem to assemble. All young and old Israelites
assembled, and he selected from among them a hundred thousand
youths. When the booty of his army was sorted and he
was about to distribute it among the soldiers, the chieftains
{muli lk) present said, "O King, take all our booty, and distribute
among us (instead) these youths elected by you from
among the Israelites." He complied, and each of them was
given four youths. Among these were Daniel, Hananiah,
Azariah and Mishael. There were also seven thousand of the -
progeny of David, eleven thousand of the tribe of Joseph and his
brother Benjamin, the sons of Jacob, and eight thousand of the
tribe of Asher. Included as well were fourteen thousand of the
tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, four thousand of the tribes of
Reuben and Levi, four thousand of the tribe of Judah, and what
[666]
remained of the Children of Israel.
Nebuchadnezzar divided them into three groups: one-third
he left in Palestine, one-third he took into captivity, one-third
he slew. He brought the Temple vessels to Babylon, also the
62
The Ancient Kingdoms
seventy thousand youths. This was the first blow God brought
down upon the Israelites for their evildoing and iniquity. When
Nebuchadnezzar started out on his way back to Babylon with
the Israelite captives, Jeremiah came on his donkey, carrying a
vessel of grape juice and a basket of figs. When he reached
Jerusalem and saw how it lay in ruins, he began doubting. How
would God revive this city after its death? God then caused
him to lie dead for a hundred years, with donkey vessel and
basket just as they were when he died. God made him invisible.
Then God raised him up, saying, 166 "How long have you
tarried?" He said, "I have tarried a day, or part of a
day." Said
He, "No, you have tarried a hundred years. Look at your food
and drink — it has not spoiled; and look at your donkey. We
shall make you a sign for the people. Look at the bones [of your
donkey] — We shall set them up and then clothe them with
flesh."
Then Jeremiah looked at his donkey and saw how the veins
and nerves were being joined, though the animal had died at
the same time as he. Then he saw how God clothed it all with
flesh, until it stood up and became animate and brayed. The
prophet then looked at his juice and figs, and behold, they were
as when he had put them down, unchanged. Confronted with
[667] such divine might, he exclaimed, "I know that God is
powerful
over everything." Thereupon God gave long life to Jeremiah,
and he is seen in the desert areas.
Nebuchadnezzar ruled as long as it pleased God. Then he
saw a dream that perturbed him, for he saw a thing that struck
him and made him forget what he saw. 167 He summoned -
Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael, who were of the seed of
prophets, and said, "Explain to me a dream I saw; something
struck me and made me forget the dream, yet it amazed me."
They said to him, "Tell us about it that we might let you know
its interpretation." He said, "I do not remember. If you
do not
interpret it for me, I shall cut off your shoulders." They
left
him and prayed to God, imploring His help, and asked Him to
let them know the dream. He granted their request. Then they
166. Qur’an 2:261. See also n. 142.
167. Daniel 2.
Why Nebuchadnezzar Destroyed Jerusalem 63
came to the king and told him, "You saw a statue."
"Right you
are," he said. They continued, "Its feet and legs were of
clay, its
knees and thighs of copper, its belly of silver, the chest of gold,
head and neck of iron." "Right indeed!" he said.
They continued,
"As you were looking at it, it surprised you, but God sent
a rock from heaven, and it smashed the statue. It is the rock
that made you forget the dream." The king responded,
"That is
right. But what does it mean?" They said, "It means that
you
saw the reigns of kings,- some were weaker, others better, some
stronger. The first reign was of clay, it was the weakest and
meekest. Above it was copper — it is the better and the stronger
one. Above copper was silver, which excels copper and is finer
than it, and above silver was gold which is better and nobler
than silver. Next was iron, your realm, the strongest of the
kingdoms, and more powerful than any before it. The rock you
saw, sent by God from heaven to smash it, points to a prophet
God will send from heaven to smash it all, and power will
revert unto Him."
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