God in the sight of them all； but the princes having met with the
occasion they so earnestly sought to find against Daniel； came
presently to the king； and accused him； that Daniel was the only
person that transgressed the decree； while not one of the rest
durst pray to their gods。 This discovery they made； not because
of his impiety； but because they had watched him； and observed
him out of envy； for supposing that Darius did thus out of a
greater kindness to him than they expected； and that he was ready
to grant him pardon for this contempt of his injunctions； and
envying this very pardon to Daniel； they did not become more
honorable to him； but desired he might be cast into the den of
lions according to the law。 So Darius； hoping that God would
deliver him； and that he would undergo nothing that was terrible
by the wild beasts； bid him bear this accident cheerfully。 And
when he was cast into the den； he put his seal to the stone that
lay upon the mouth of the den； and went his way； but he passed
all the night without food and without sleep； being in great
distress for Daniel； but when it was day； he got up； and came to
the den； and found the seal entire； which he had left the stone
sealed withal； he also opened the seal； and。 cried out； and
called to Daniel； and asked him if he were alive。 And as soon as
he heard the king's voice； and said that he had suffered no harm；
the king gave order that he should be drawn up out of the den。
Now when his enemies saw that Daniel had suffered nothing which
was terrible； they would not own that he was preserved by God；
and by his providence； but they said that the lions had been
filled full with food； and on that account it was； as they
supposed； that the lions would not touch Daniel； nor come to him；
and this they alleged to the king。 But the king； out of an
abhorrence of their wickedness； gave order that they should throw
in a great deal of flesh to the lions； and when they had filled
themselves； he gave further order that Daniel's enemies should be
cast into the den； that he might learn whether the lions； now
they were full； would touch them or not。 And it appeared plain to
Darius； after the princes had been cast to the wild beasts； that
it was God who preserved Daniel （25） for the lions spared none of
them； but tore them all to pieces； as if they had been very
hungry； and wanted food。 I suppose therefore it was not their
hunger； which had been a little before satisfied with abundance
of flesh； but the wickedness of these men； that provoked them ＇to
destroy the princes＇； for if it so please God； that wickedness
might； by even those irrational creatures； be esteemed a plain
foundation for their punishment。
7。 When therefore those that had intended thus to destroy Daniel
by treachery were themselves destroyed； king Darius sent
＇letters＇ over all the country； and praised that God whom Daniel
worshipped； and said that he was the only true God； and had all
power。 He had also Daniel in very great esteem； and made him the
principal of his friends。 Now when Daniel was become so
illustrious and famous； on account of the opinion men had that he
was beloved of God； he built a tower at Ecbatana； in Media： it
was a most elegant building； and wonderfully made； and it is
still remaining； and preserved to this day； and to such as see
it； it appears to have been lately built； and to have been no
older than that very day when any one looks upon it； it is so
fresh （26） flourishing； and beautiful； and no way grown old in so
long time； for buildings suffer the same as men do； they grow old
as well as they； and by numbers of years their strength is
dissolved； and their beauty withered。 Now they bury the kings of
Media； of Persia； and Parthia in this tower to this day； and he
who was entrusted with the care of it was a Jewish priest； which
thing is also observed to this day。 But it is fit to give an
account of what this man did； which is most admirable to hear；
for he was so happy as to have strange revelations made to him；
and those as to one of the greatest of the prophets； insomuch；
that while he was alive he had the esteem and applause both of
the kings and of the multitude； and now he is dead； he retains a
remembrance that will never fail； for the several books that he
wrote and left behind him are still read by us till this time；
and from them we believe that Daniel conversed with God； for he
did not only prophesy of future events； as did the other
prophets； but he also determined the time of their
accomplishment。 And while prophets used to foretell misfortunes；
and on that account were disagreeable both to the kings and to
the multitude； Daniel was to them a prophet of good things； and
this to such a degree； that by the agreeable nature of his
predictions； he procured the goodwill of all men； and by the
accomplishment of them； he procured the belief of their truth；
and the opinion of ＇a sort of＇ divinity for himself； among the
multitude。 He also wrote and left behind him what made manifest
the accuracy and undeniable veracity of his predictions； for he
saith； that when he was in Susa； the metropolis of Persia； and
went out into the field with his companions； there was； on the
sudden； a motion and concussion of the earth； and that he was
left alone by himself； his friends fleeing away from him； and
that he was disturbed； and fell on his face； and on his two
hands； and that a certain person touched him； and； at the same
time； bid him rise； and see what would befall his countrymen
after many generations。 He also related； that when he stood up；
he was shown a great rain； with many horns growing out of his
head； and that the last was higher than the rest： that after this
he looked to the west； and saw a he…goat carried through the air
from that quarter； that he rushed upon the ram with violence； and
smote him twice with his horns； and overthrew him to the ground；
and trampled upon him： that afterward he saw a very great horn
growing out of the head of the he…goat； and that when it was
broken off； four horns grew up that were exposed to each of the
four winds； and he wrote that out of them arose another lesser
horn； which； as he said； waxed great； and that God showed to him
that it should fight against his nation； and take their city by
force； and bring the temple worship to confusion； and forbid the
sacrifices to be offered for one thousand two hundred and
ninety…six days。 Daniel wrote that he saw these visions in the
Plain of Susa； and he hath informed us that God interpreted the
appearance of this vision after the following manner： He said
that the ram signified the kingdoms of the Medes and Persians；
and the horns those kings that were to reign in them； and that
the last horn signified the last king； and that he should exceed
all the kings in riches and glory： that the he…goat signified
that one should come and reign from the Greeks； who should twice
fight with the Persian； and overcome him in battle； and should
receive his entire dominion： that by the great horn which sprang
out of the forehead of the he…goat was meant the first king； and
that the springing up of four horns upon its falling off； and the
conversion of every one of them to the four quarters of the
earth； signified the successors that should arise after the death
of the first king； and the partition of the kingdom among them；
and that they should be neither his children； nor of his kindred；
that should reign over the habitable earth for many years； and
that from among them there should arise a certain king that
should overcome our nation and their laws； and should take away
their political government； and should spoil the temple； and
forbid the sacrifices to be offered for three years' time。 And
indeed it so came to pass； that our nation suffered these things
under Antiochus Epiphanes； according to Daniel's vision； and what
he wrote many years before they came to pass。 In the very same
manner Daniel also wrote concerning the Roman government； and
that our country should be made desolate by them。 All these
things did this man leave in writing； as God had showed them to
him； insomuch that such as read his prophecies； and see how they
have been fulfilled； would wonder at the honor wherewith God
honored Daniel； and may thence discover how the Epicureans are in
an error； who cast Providence out of human life； and do not
believe that God takes care of the affairs of the world； nor that
the universe is governed and continued in being by that blessed
and immortal nature； but say that the world is carried along of
its own accord； without a ruler and a curator； which； were it
destitute of a guide to conduct it； as they imagine； it would be
like ships without pilots； which we see drowned by the winds； or
like chariots without drivers； which are overturned； so would the
world be dashed to pieces by its being carried without a
Providence； and so perish； and come to nought。 So that； by the
forementioned predictions of Daniel； those men seem to me very
much to err from the truth； who determine that God exercises no
providence over human affairs； for if that were the case； that
the world went on by mechanical necessity； we should not see that
all things would come to pass according to his prophecy。 Now as
to myself； I have so described these matters as I have found them
and read them； but if any one is inclined to another opinion
about them； let him enjoy his different sentiments without any
blame from me。
BOOK XI。
Containing The Interval Of Two Hundred And Fifty…Three Years And
Five Months。
From The First Of Cyrus To The Death Of Alexander The Great。
CHAPTER 1。
How Cyrus； King Of The Persians； Delivered The Jews Out Of
Babylon And Suffered Them To Return To Their Own Country And To
Build Their Temple； For Which Work He Gave Them Money。
1。 In the first year of the reign of Cyrus （1） which was the
seventieth from the day that our people were removed out of their
own land into Babylon； God commiserated the captivity and
calamity of these poor people； according as he had foretold to
them by Jeremiah the prophet； before the destruction of the city；
that after they had served Nebuchadnezzar and his