man we have said but little. He acted as regent during his father's
Insanity. He was a person of a low, groveling mind, and no sooner was he
established on his throne than he began to give signs that the scepter
was in the hands of a profligate tyrant. Contrary to the request of his
dying father, he neglected the weighty matters of the empire, and plunged
into dissipation and gluttonous revelry.

As with the commencement of Nebuchadnezzar's reign began the real glory
of Chaldea, so with his death the glory departed, and the empire was soon
in a rapid decline. No feature in the character of the new king was in
the least calculated to command either the love or the admiration of his
subjects. He was inwardly cursed by the nation, and feared only on
account of his cruelty. Of Daniel he had some dread, and over him the
Hebrew had some control. He was well convinced, from what he had seen in
his father's history, that Daniel was not to be slighted, and that among
all the wise men of the realm, there was none like him. And, moreover, he
was well aware that his superior wisdom had had much to do in elevating
the empire to its present high position. Through the influence of this
man of God, the wicked king dealt with comparative mildness toward the
captive Hebrews so numerous within the realm.

The reign of this monarch was of short duration. Some of his own
relatives, conspiring against him, put an end to his existence; and so
died Evil-Merodach, unwept by the nation, and Nerriglisser, one of the
chief conspirators, reigned in his stead.

The three brothers, since the death of Nebuchadnezzar, had seen best to
retire from public life. In Babylon they were greatly beloved, and
considered as the peculiarly favored of the gods, and over whom no mortal
had control.