Page 158 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

“May I tell you first some facts concerning the Prophet Esaias, the author of the
voluminous prophecy contained in his roll of parchment? Esaias, was a prince of the
royal house of Judah, but not in line of kingly succession. He was called to the

prophetic office in the last year of the reign of Uzziah and continued through the reign
of his son, the good king, Jotham, and through the days of his wicked son Ahaz, who
introduced much idolatry into Jerusalem, and on through the reign of good King
Hezekiah.”

“This roll records the destruction of the army of Sennacherib, the Assyrian in one
night, by an angel of Jehovah, wherein 185 thousand men were slain without a sword
being raised against them. It may be that Your Majesty has heard of that event.”
“Yes,” put in Cyrus, “I remember of reading of that remarkable occurrence when I

was but a young lad, and it made a great impression upon me, and gave me a respect
and reverence for the God of the Hebrews that I have carried with me all of my life,
despite the fact that in my time your people have been a subject-nation.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty,” continued Daniel, “the condition of my people with

respect to other nations, whether in victory or defeat, supremacy or subjection, has
been in exact proportion to their faithfulness to Jehovah our God.”
“King Hezekiah was succeeded by his own Manasseh who was the worst king that
Judah ever had, and reigned for fifty-five years. No written record was allowed to be

kept of it, but persistent tradition from our elders tells us that Esaias, whose daughter
seems to have been married to King Manasseh, was cruelly put to death by that
wicked ruler, by being sawn asunder. He was an old man and the noblest prophet of
all. He told us more of the glorious days of Messiah, the world-wide, reign of peace

and righteousness, than any other. His prophetic forthtellings carry combined strains
of sorrow and joy. He predicted judgment upon Judah one-hundred years before the
blow fell, but he blends with this dolorous strain, the assurance of a restoration and a
final state of joy and happiness for all.”

“But O Daniel, where do I fit into the visions of the future, foreseen and foretold
by this prophetic bard, Esaias?” interposed Cyrus.
“That is just what I am going to show you now, King Cyrus,” replied Daniel as he
proceeded to unroll the lengthy parchment, written in Hebrew, but having marginal

translations in Aramaic. “I believe, Your Majesty, you understand some of our Hebrew
language.”
“Only a tiny smattering, Sir President, but I have learned the alphabet and can read

the words, most of which I do not understand.”
“That is quite sufficient, for our present purpose. I am anxious that you shall see
with your own eyes that a century and a half before you were born, Esaias the seer
called your name and declared the purpose of Jehovah concerning you. The context
has been speaking of the wisdom and power of Jehovah that brings to naught the vain

guesses and prognostications of men concerning future events. But He confirms the
words of His own servants. Long before Jerusalem was destroyed or the other cities of