Changes

==Arguments for Cyaxares II==

==Arguments for Cyaxares II==

In Xenophon's historical narrative, some time after the natural death of his grandfather [[Astyages]], [[Cyrus the Great]], while still a youth and not yet king of Persia, entered into the employ of his uncle [[Cyaxares II]] as general of the army in a mutual defence pact against Assyria (Babylon).  In this capacity [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] campaigns with [[Cyaxares II]] at the first and then by himself until his eventual conquest of [[Babylon]] itself.  In this narrative, it must be noted that all conquests are officiall in the name of the alliance and ultimately at the expense and direction of the king of the Medes.  After which [[Cyrus the Great]] returns to the capital city of [[Ecbatana]] in Media and presents [[Cyaxares II]] with a palace in Babylon as a token of victory and receives [[Cyaxares II]]'s daughter as his wife with the kingdom of Media as her dowry.  Xenophon's account then details Cyrus' trip home to Persia where he receives the title of King upon the death of his father [[Cambyses I]].

In Xenophon's historical narrative, some time after the natural death of his grandfather [[Astyages]], [[Cyrus the Great]], while still a youth and not yet king of Persia, entered into the employ of his uncle [[Cyaxares II]] as general of the army in a mutual defence pact against Assyria (Babylon).  In this capacity [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] campaigns with [[Cyaxares II]] at the first and then by himself until his eventual conquest of [[Babylon]] itself.  In this narrative, it must be noted that all conquests are officiall in the name of the alliance which was ultimately at the expense and direction of the king of the Medes.  After which [[Cyrus the Great]] returns to the capital city of [[Ecbatana]] in Media and presents [[Cyaxares II]] with a palace in Babylon as a token of victory and receives [[Cyaxares II]]'s daughter as his wife with the kingdom of Media as her dowry.  Xenophon's account then details Cyrus' trip home to Persia where he receives the title of King upon the death of his father [[Cambyses I]].

This position when combined with Josephs' assertion that [[Darius the Mede]] was the son of [[Astyages]] but known to the Greeks by another name, it makes it only natural to conclude that:

This position when combined with Josephs' assertion that [[Darius the Mede]] was the son of [[Astyages]] but known to the Greeks by another name, it makes it only natural to conclude that:

* Cyrus at that point was simply heir of Persia and the greatly loved General of the Coalition Army.

* Cyrus at that point was simply heir of Persia and the greatly loved General of the Coalition Army.

As discussed at the start, while the character of [[Cyaxares II]] is not generally accepted amidst the classical histories such as [[Herodotus]], [[Ctesias]], the Cannon of Ptolemy or even on a currently available clay tablet (other than two possible references in the [[Behistun (inscription)|Behistun Inscription]]), [[Cyaxares II]] presents the most natural solution to the problem and is the summary position of several Bible commentaries such as: ''Benson Commentary''<ref>Benson Commentary, Daniel 9:1; https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/daniel/9.htm</ref><ref>Benson Commentary, Daniel 6:1;https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/daniel/6.htm</ref><ref>Benson Commentary, Daniel 5:30-31; https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/daniel/5.htm</ref> & the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentaries.

As discussed at the start, while the character of [[Cyaxares II]] is not generally accepted amidst the classical histories such as [[Herodotus]], [[Ctesias]], the Cannon of Ptolemy or even on a currently available clay tablet (other than two possible references in the [[Behistun (inscription)|Behistun Inscription]]), [[Cyaxares II]] presents the most natural solution to the problem and is the summary position of several Bible commentaries such as: ''Benson Commentary''<ref>Benson Commentary, Daniel 9:1; https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/daniel/9.htm</ref><ref>Benson Commentary, Daniel 6:1;https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/daniel/6.htm</ref><ref>Benson Commentary, Daniel 5:30-31; https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/daniel/5.htm</ref> ''Barnes Notes''<ref>Barnes Notes, Daniel 9:1; https://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/daniel/9.htm</ref> & the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentaries.

Finally even Saint Jerome asserts that Darius the Mede in Cyaxares II, son of Astyages{{citation needed}}.  Leaving Benson to conclude "so that it appears to have been the generally received opinion in [Jerome's] time, as it probably was also in the time of Josephus, which was not more than five or six hundred years after Cyrus."<ref>https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/daniel/6.htm</ref>  Alexander's love of the [[Cyropaedia]] and thereby [[Aristotle|Aristotle's]] recommendation show acceptance of the identity of [[Cyaxares II]] by heads of state not 100-200 years from the events they record.

Finally even Saint Jerome asserts that Darius the Mede in Cyaxares II, son of Astyages{{citation needed}}.  Leaving Benson to conclude "so that it appears to have been the generally received opinion in [Jerome's] time, as it probably was also in the time of Josephus, which was not more than five or six hundred years after Cyrus."<ref>https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/daniel/6.htm</ref>  Alexander's love of the [[Cyropaedia]] and thereby [[Aristotle|Aristotle's]] recommendation show acceptance of the identity of [[Cyaxares II]] by heads of state not 100-200 years from the events they record.

=In Daniel 5=

=In Daniel 5=