The Cyrus Cylinder Author(s): D. G. Lyon Source: Journal of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis, Vol. 6, No.

1 (Jun., 1886), p. 139 Published by: The Society of Biblical Literature Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3268761 Accessed: 07/03/2010 16:02
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NOTES.

I39

2 SAM. XXIV. 23.

we find a piska mentioned in two catalogues. The After 1~7)5 , correspondTargum has here an addition, = t: 1P1T:t )S?

ing to the Hebrew jb= t.7p=

1 'W

Whether all piskas are intended to mean that there is something wanting in the text, or whether they convey something else, a careful study of the text can only show.

The Cyrus Cylinder.

BY PROF. D. G. LYON, PH.D.

THE Cyrus Cylinder, written in Babylonian characters after the fall of Babylon, apparently by a priest of Marduk, contains several striking coincidences with the book of Isaiah. In the prophet Cyrus is called in 1^"5, righteousness (xli. 2), made to rule over nations and

kings (xli. 2), is called by his name and is surnamed (xlv. 4), and his In the cylinder the right hand is holden by Jahweh (xlv. I). here and are Marduk not Jahweh is represimilar, only expressions sented as giving dominion to Cyrus. For the "called in righteousness" of Isaiah, the cylinder (lines II, I2) says that Marduk sought among all nations for a righteous prince (malki isharu, n"? 1k2); for " I have called thee by thy name," the cylinder says that Marduk named Cyrus, and appointed him unto dominion (Kurash shlar Anshan if/abi nibitsu ana malkutz'm,etc., 1. I2); for causing him to rule over nations and kings, the cylinder says that Marduk caused the Kuti and the Medes to submit to Cyrus, and caused the hands of Cyrus to conquer the black-headed nations (1. I3) ; for "whose right hand I have holden" (Isa. Isa. xli. I), the ntinn'"I/, cylinder expression is identical, except that the verb is the third instead of the second person, "whose hand he holds," or "whom he 1. 12). These interestholds by the hand" (sha i/tamah ktd/uszhshu, ing parallels suggest some reflections which I hope to present at some future time.