Page 134 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

CHAPTER XXIX

A WINDOW TOWARD JERUSALEM

After the capture of Babylon by the Medes and Persians, Darius, foreseeing the
necessity of establishing a civil administration, had sent a hurry call to Cyrus
requesting him to detach at least two of his officials from the government in Ecbatana
and send them to assist him in Babylon.

So Cyrus had dispatched to him two of his most trusted officials, able and
experienced men, whose names were Parmashta and Adalia. These two had already
arrived at the time that Darius had called on Rhea, and were on hand to attend the

meeting on the day following, which Daniel had been asked to attend.

So there were four who sat at the council table that morning – Darius the king,
Parmashta, Adalia and Daniel, the Hebrew elder-statesman.

It was decided by them that the whole empire should be divided into three
geographical divisions, each division containing forty districts, and over each of the
districts there should be a satrap. Babylon was to be the center of three concentric

circles; an inner, middle and outer circle. The inner circle of forty satrapies, though
smaller in area, was more densely populated. Moving out from the inner circle, the
area of the districts grew larger but more thinly populated. So the satraps on the outer
periphery ruled over a much larger area, but about the same number of people.

Over the inner circle of forty satrapies, Darius appointed Parmashta president,
over the middle forty he made Adalia the president and over the wide outside circle he
appointed Daniel.

“Since Daniel has had long experience in the government of the Empire of
Babylon,” said Darius to the three, “and is acquainted with the territory and even with
some of the personnel in all these divisions whom we plan to retain as satraps, I have

decided to appoint him as chairman of the Council of Presidents, and you may consult
with him on any problems arising in the areas over which you exercise immediate
control.”

Though externally courteous and submissive to this decision of King Darius, there

welled up within both Parmashta and Adalia a deep resentment and jealousy that this
old Hebrew, of whom they knew nothing, should be preferred above them who were