Page 106 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

Rhea, sat on the bed beside him, clasping one of the emaciated hands with both of
hers, her eyes damp with tears.

“My friends, you have served the Empire of Babylon and me as king, with great
nobility and faithfulness; and before I depart this life to go hence to that place which
our true and loving God, Jahveh, has prepared for those that love Him, I want to give
expression to my appreciation of the loyalty and devotion to duty that you have

showed to me and to the great Empire of Babylon, even in the presence of the pride
and selfishness which I displayed in the early years of my reign.
“I am thankful for that impulse that was given me to bring young men from Judah
over to train for service in our government, and that through you, Daniel, and you

three, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, because of your steadfast obedience to the
precepts of the God of Israel, I and my lords here-Nebuzaradan, Ashpenaz, and
Arioch-and many others have come to repose our faith in Jahveh, the one True God,
and to forsake the worship of Bel. I was harder of heart and more stubborn than any,

and had to be dealt with more severely, before I would bend my proud heart in
submission. This faith cannot be compelled by human means. Avil-Marduk, here, will
be my immediate successor on the throne. I now openly proclaim that he is my son,
born of a clandestine love with and marriage to a beautiful Babylonish maiden of

humble origin who died at his birth. My love for her was of necessity secret, due to
the violent opposition of my father Nabopolassar (who knew of my attachment to the
lovely commoner) but the relation was not dishonorable. I would never have married
again publicly if she had lived. It was several years later that I married my beloved

Rhea. But Avil-Marduk insists that he will never marry, so he will die without issue.
“I therefore, direct that the succession shall go to my son-in-law Nabunaid and
then to his son, Bilsharuzzar, whom my daughter, the Princess Hanniel, hath lately
borne to him. I desire that the royal responsibility shall not be assumed by one under

fifty years of age, and should Avil-Marduk, just now fifty, be deceased before
Nabunaid arrives at that age, then let Neriglissar, the second military official in the
realm, serve in the interim until Nabunaid can be crowned. I need not add that I expect
you all to carry on in your official positions and continue to advise my son and

successor on matters of state.
“I can now only commend you to the power and mercies of Jahveh, as I bid you
farewell.” There was not a dry eye in the group as they filed by his bed and each took

the king’s hand. The four Hebrew statesmen bent and placed a kiss on the pallid brow
of the stricken and dying monarch as did Nebuzaradan and Arioch and Avil-Marduk.

Within three days, Nebuchadnezzar the founder of the greatest empire of ancient
times, breathed his last. A great Mausoleum was erected in the plains of Dura, hard by

the place where the great image had once stood.