Page 115 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

loyal assistance from the civil officials and from a couple of the older generals, trained
under my father, Nebuzaradan, in military affairs. So you need to have no fears. Roval
Mother, all will be well!” Thus spoke Nabunaid, King of Babylon!

The Queen-Mother now nigh to four-score years, and still queenly in appearance
said: “You are the king and must make the decisions, not I.” Thus the conversation
ended, and Rhea retired to her own apartments. But the queen’s heart was heavy. She

had observed unmistakable signs of decay in the political structure of Babylon. She
had to admit to herself that the lot of the empire had not visibly improved since the
death of Neriglissar and the accession of her son-in-law, Nabunaid.

King Nabunaid (or Nabonidus as he was officially titled) and Queen Hanniel had
never shown any heart-interest in the worship of Jehovah in their youth, and this
indifference became more pronounced as they grew older, much to the grief and
distress of the queen-mother. She knew that the great God whom she loved and

served, the God of all the earth, could not confer His blessings upon a nation whose
heads having known of Him, had turned their backs on Him. She had sorrowed at the
fact that on his accession to the throne, Nabonidus had retained many of the old Bel-
worshipping officials brought in by Neriglissar, and he and the queen had endorsed the

idolatrous festivals of Bel by their attendance upon them.

There had been changes in the personnel of the government but there had been no
move whatever to restore to power the Hebrew statesmen who had ruled so

excellently during the ascendancy of Nebuchadnezzar and Avil-Marduk.

The ranks of the bachelor-statesmen had been reduced. All had exceeded the age
of three-score-and ten, but in successive years, Azariah and Hananiah were stricken

and died. Daniel and Mishael remained, and the latter was in very precarious health.
Much of the time of the ex-prime minister was taken up with ministering to the
declining health of his one remaining associate. The four had each accumulated an
excellent competence during their years of office, but gave freely of it to the ministry

of the poor.

They lived in complete retirement from public life and indeed in complete

obscurity so far as Babylonish officialdom was concerned. Occasionally at the request
of Queen Rhea, Daniel would repair to the palace for prayer and reading and
explanation of the scriptures to her. She knew well of his place of abode and the two
co-operated in efforts to relieve poverty and suffering. Otherwise he was completely
ignored by the royal household, though still honored by the society of the Magi and

idolized by the lower classes and common people. Of the Hebrew quartet, Daniel was
the only one whose health and strength seemed almost to improve with age.