Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/177

 ing; but these Accounts are, very probably, fabulous, for the following Reasons.

Till the Time of Tiglath-Pileser and Pul, we hear no News of any Assyrian Monarchs in the Jewish History. In Amraphel's Time, who was overthrown by Abraham and his Family, in the Vale of Siddim, the Kings of Chaldea seem to have been no other than those of Canaan, Captains of Hords, or Heads of Clans: And Amraphel was Tributary to Chedorlaomer King of Elam, whose Kingdom lay to the East of Babylon, beyond the River ''Tigris. Chushan Rishathaim King of Mesopotamia, who was overthrown some Ages after by Othoniel, the Israelitish Judge, does not seem to have been a mighty Prince: It may be said, indeed, that he was General to some Assyrian Monarch; but that is begging the Question, since there is nothing which can favour such an Assertion in the Book of Judges''.

But when the Assyrians and Babylonians come once to be mentioned in the Jewish History, they occurr in almost every Page of the Old Testament. There are frequent Accounts of Pul, Tiglath-Pileser, Shalmanezer, Sennacherib, Esar-haddon, Nebuchadnezzar, Evil-merodach, Belshazzar; and who not? But these Kings lived