and built around Ecbatana walls of hewn stones three cubits broad and six cubits long, and made the height of the wall seventy cubits, and its breadth fifty cubits,
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 2. Hewed. Greek adds, “three cubits broad and six long.” The ancients aimed at solidity in their architecture, as appears from their ruins. Calmet.—High. Salien ( A. 3345) thinks there is a transposition, and that the walls were 70 cubits high. Menochius.—What need was there of such a breadth? Greek allows 70 in height, and 50 in breadth, which seems more proportionate. Old Vulg. has 60 cubits high, and 50 broad. On the walls of Ninive, three chariots might fight abreast, ( Calmet.) and six on those of Babylon. Ctesias.—Feet. Projecting from the wall, to remove an enemy. Menochius.—Greek “and the towers thereof he placed above the gates 100 cubits, and the foundation was 60 cubits broad. And he made the gates to rise 70 cubits, being 40 cubits in breadth, to send out the armies of his mighty men, and to draw up his infantry.” Bible.