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Questions
7 C's timeline poster question
The poster has Darius ruling before Belshazzar. Since Daniel 5:30-31 says Darius took Belshazzar's kingdom after he was slain, is there another reason for placing Darius before Belshazzar?
Answer
Joseph,
During the time period in question, there was much shifting of power as empires rose and fell. Northern Israel was taken into captivity by Assyria in 721 BC. Then Babylon rose in power and conquered Assyria. Under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon captured southern Judah in phases, beginning in 607 BC and completing Jerusalem’s destruction in 588 BC. Belshazzar, the next Babylonian king described in the biblical account (Daniel 5), began to rule in 555 BC. About five years earlier, in 560 BC, Darius had risen to power in Media, another world power at the time. Meanwhile, Cyrus began to rule the Persian Empire, which conquered Darius’ Median Empire. This merge of powers gave rise to the Medo-Persian Empire. Cyrus went on to conquer Babylon in 538 BC, killing Belshazzar and handing his region over to Darius, who had previously been the king of the Medes. This is why Daniel refers to him as Darius the Mede (Daniel 5:31, 11:1).
The 7 C’s of History timeline places Darius becoming king of Media prior to Belshazzar becoming king of Babylon, but Darius did not rule in Babylon until the Medo-Persian Empire conquered Belshazzar’s kingdom in 538 BC.
I hope that clarifies the information on the poster for you.
Blessings,
Roger
Customer support service by UserEcho
Joseph,
During the time period in question, there was much shifting of power as empires rose and fell. Northern Israel was taken into captivity by Assyria in 721 BC. Then Babylon rose in power and conquered Assyria. Under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon captured southern Judah in phases, beginning in 607 BC and completing Jerusalem’s destruction in 588 BC. Belshazzar, the next Babylonian king described in the biblical account (Daniel 5), began to rule in 555 BC. About five years earlier, in 560 BC, Darius had risen to power in Media, another world power at the time. Meanwhile, Cyrus began to rule the Persian Empire, which conquered Darius’ Median Empire. This merge of powers gave rise to the Medo-Persian Empire. Cyrus went on to conquer Babylon in 538 BC, killing Belshazzar and handing his region over to Darius, who had previously been the king of the Medes. This is why Daniel refers to him as Darius the Mede (Daniel 5:31, 11:1).
The 7 C’s of History timeline places Darius becoming king of Media prior to Belshazzar becoming king of Babylon, but Darius did not rule in Babylon until the Medo-Persian Empire conquered Belshazzar’s kingdom in 538 BC.
I hope that clarifies the information on the poster for you.
Blessings,
Roger